Slaven Bilic must axe these 3 West Ham United players in January

Although the January transfer window is still three months away, speculation is beginning to build about the future of a number of Premier League players.

This fortnight’s international break will give Premier League bosses time to reflect on their team’s opening seven league games, as well as analyse the performance of the squad in the first two months of the season.

West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic will be one of those managers with plenty to think about over the next few weeks.

The Hammers have won just one of their first seven league matches, losing five of the other six, and find themselves third from bottom in the table.

Consequently, Bilic may need to bring in reinforcements in January which, inevitably, leads to some players leaving the club, either permanently or temporarily.

Here are THREE players who the Croatian should let go in January…

Diafra Sakho

Diafra Sakho was on the verge of joining fellow Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion in August, although the deal fell through because the 26-year-old failed a medical.

He had previously handed in a transfer request at the London Stadium, clearly stating his desire to leave the club just two years after signing from Metz.

Unsurprisingly, Sakho has not featured in any of West Ham’s games this season, both in league and cup action, so it’s just a matter of time before he leaves the club.

It can’t be helpful having someone around the club who doesn’t want to be there, so getting him out in January would be best for both parties.

Raphael Spiegel

Goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel has been at West Ham for four years now, but has still yet to make a first-team appearances for the Hammers.

And it doesn’t look like he’s going to make his debut any time soon either.

Both Darren Randolph and Adrian are well above the 23-year-old in the pecking order, and now the time has come for Spiegel to decide whether or not his future lies in East London.

At 23, the Swiss youth international needs to be playing regularly to aid his development – that’s not going to happen at West Ham, so a move in January, be it permanently or temporarily, may be what he needs to advance his career.

Reece Oxford

Definitely not on a permanent basis, but Reece Oxford should consider going out on loan in January.

He’s 17-years-old and has undoubted potential, yet has been restricted to just two appearances so far this season, both coming in West Ham’s ill-fated Europa League qualifying campaign back in August.

After making his Premier League debut in an impressive performance against Arsenal last season, and then going on to appear six more times in the top-flight, it looked like Oxford was going to be part of Bilic’s plans for this season. But it just hasn’t happened.

If the youngster cannot get a game when West Ham are struggling as they are at the moment, he’s not going to get one any time soon, so a loan spell away from the London Stadium may be beneficial for both him and the club.