West Ham have issued an update on Aaron Wan-Bissaka after rumours of a fallout with manager Graham Potter behind the scenes.
The defender’s situation has sparked plenty of speculation and the club has have moved to clarify matters.
Who knows where West Ham would have been last season were it not for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek.
Once again ever-reliable Soucek chipped in with nine vital goals and selfless defensive action that stopped goodness knows how many at the other end.
Bowen did what Bowen does, leading by example with his goals, assists and relentless work for the team.
West Ham fans can’t stomach Wan-Bissaka explanation
It was Wan-Bissaka who edged him out for West Ham’s prestigious Hammer of the Year award, though, so good was his debut campaign in claret and blue.
The Hammers could only muster a hugely disappointing 14th place finish last term.
But the trio of Wan-Bissaka, Bowen and Soucek were undoubtedly the difference between that and a genuine battle to stay up.
The dreaded second season syndrome seems to have struck West Ham’s right-back, though.
And his situation has attracted plenty of attention and unverified fan speculation.
Supporters were seriously excited by the prospect of Wan-Bissaka on the right and new boy El Hadji Malick Diouf on the left in pre-season.
Things have not quite transpired on the pitch as yet, though.
While Diouf has arguably been West Ham’s best player so far, Wan-Bissaka was criticised by fans for a sloppy start to the campaign.
As a result, he lost his place in the team for the Hammers’ only win of the season at Nottingham Forest, being named on the bench as Kyle Walker-Peters got a start.
Walker-Peters played well and kept the shirt, as is only right.
West Ham issue update on Wan-Bissaka after Potter fallout talk
Wan-Bissaka played for DR Congo over the September international break but was then not named in West Ham’s squad for the Sours or Crystal Palace defeats.
When pressed on the reason for his absence against Spurs, under pressure Graham Potter explained it away as a stomach problem.
When Wan-Bissaka was still missing for Palace a week later, the rumour mill went into overdrive on social media and fan forums.
Now West Ham have issued an update on Wan-Bissaka after that Potter fallout talk.
It has not been uncommon for Potter and his predecessor Julen Lopetegui to fall out with players in the West Ham squad in recent times.
There was reportedly a mutiny of five West Ham players threatening to leave if Lopetegui was not sacked last Christmas.
When Lopetegui was eventually sacked it was confirmed those players went to Tim Steidten, hence the fallout between the former technical director and the Spaniard.
Potter is alleged to have had fallouts with Niclas Fullkrug, Edson Alvarez, Jean-Clair Todibo and, after dropping him against Forest, Wan-Bissaka too.
There is a feeling among some supporters that Potter may not fancy Wan-Bissaka.
The same is true of £32m Todibo, who was also nowhere to be seen in the West Ham squad for the Spurs game before returning to the bench for Palace.
But the conspiracy theories will either be put to bed or reignited when the Hammers go to Everton on Monday night.
Wan-Bissaka ‘hoping’ to be back for West Ham’s trip to Everton
Ahead of the daunting trip for a reunion with David Moyes, West Ham have issued official team news for the game.
While the club have left Wan-Bissaka’s availability open-ended the club have stated he ‘hopes’ to be back.
“Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be hoping to be available, after missing the Hammers’ last two outings with a stomach issue,” West Ham state.
The stomach issue line hasn’t washed with many Hammers fans over the last few weeks.
Should Wan-Bissaka be missing again at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, then perhaps supporters will be proved right.
Although Wan-Bissaka may not have to wait on the sidelines too long if that is the case with reports claiming Potter could be gone after Everton – and if not then by the international break – after fans turned on the manager in the defeat to Palace.
