Maybe Hammers Should Have Sold Hernandez Instead of Fernandes?

Edimilson Fernandes has joined German Bundesliga club 1. FSV Mainz on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee, the reason the fee is undisclosed is confusing to most people, in essence by stating the fee is undisclosed both selling and buying club are free to structure the payments in order to harmonise with their fiscal declarations, this form of 'secrecy' is very common, particularly in Europe.

The Switzerland midfielder departs West Ham United after three years in east London, having joined the Hammers from Swiss club Sion in August 2016. Fernandes totalled 48 first-team appearances across his first two seasons at London Stadium, scoring a goal in an EFL Cup win over Chelsea in October 2016, the 23-year-old spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Italian Serie A club Fiorentina.

The 'undisclosed fee' of around £8 Million is not very high considering Edimilson's age, but what is done is done. The alarming aspect of Fernandes's departure is that his sale was necessary in order to balance the books and make funds available for player acquisitions, however the savings of getting Fernandes off the books pale in to insignificance when compared with how much Javier Hernández has cost and is continuing to the club.

Hernández's wages alone could pay for three players, and that is before allowing for the huge loss the club will make even if they are able to sell on the 31 year old Mexican. Much has been said recently about the catastrophic costs associated with the long running Andy Carroll injury plague, but 'Chicharito' has cost even more pro rata than the big geordie! Signed on 24 July 2017 for £17 Million, Hernández was given a three year contract at an eye watering £140,000 per week, someone must surely have been at their 'pipe' to have sanctioned such a deal!

It is highly unlikely that West Ham will recoup even half of Hernández's original cost, but even assuming there is a team that is unwise enough to pay £10 Million, the numbers make appalling reading, Chicharito has cost, if you assume a £7 Million loss on his transfer, an astonishing £406,000 per game and £1,437,335 per goal! Those figures are 'Carrollesque', no club outside the top four can afford exorbitant costs like Hernandez, the club should be concentrating on getting him out the door as a matter of urgency! - Ed