Pablo Fornals delivers another West Ham United stinker Freiburg, David Moyes could force January transfer exit

West Ham continued their successful start to life in the Europa League with a record-breaking victory at Freiburg but David Moyes will be pulling his hair out over yet another Pablo Fornals underperformance.

The London club clinched an impressive record in Germany on Thursday (5 October) by becoming the first English side to go 17 consecutive games in European competition without defeat.

Goals from Lucas Paqueta and Nayef Aguerd ensured Moyes and his men returned to London with another crucial three points to sit comfortably at the top of group A.

West Ham United made a string of changes from the side that beat Sheffield United at the weekend with Michail Antonio a notable absentee – and one player whom Moyes will not have been impressed by was one of his most trusted and reliable lieutenants Fornals who again failed to make the most of his first team chance which could well have damaging repercussions down the line.

His last start against Lincoln City in the EFL Cup on 27 September yielded the same unfruitful results, a performance which certainly showed that he may already have his head turned over a London Stadium exit in January, given his contract runs out in 2024.

As per SofaScore, the Spanish international was nowhere to be seen against League One opposition, recording just 44 touches and uncharacteristically successfully completing just 76% of his passes, – he’s usually so neat and tidy with them – he also failed in 100% of his crosses, 100% of his long-balls, 100% of his dribbles, recorded just two duels won, lost possession of the ball eleven times while recording one key pass all night.

Spanish news outlet El Sevillista reported on 26 September), that Champions League club Sevilla are hopeful West Ham will accept a “negligible” offer for the Spanish international in order to “get some profitability” and avoid losing him on a free transfer.

The report also wrote that Sevilla are already advancing in their plans for the January market and have placed Fornals at the top of their target list as they look to bolster the squad to qualify for Europe.

The 27-year-old over the past year, has always delivered for the club whenever they need him most but with time running out on his career in East London, he’s certainly performing like a player who has somewhat given up.

Against Freiburg, the Spaniard again failed to deliver and proved why Moyes has been hesitant to start him regularly this season.

He barely touched the ball in his 77 minutes on the pitch, failed to register a single key pass, won just two of his duels, lost possession 11 times and completed just one of his three dribbles [SofaScore] in another disastrous showing.

It’s been reported that Fornals has rejected the chance of a new deal at the London Stadium (Sean Whetstone, 14 September) and the Spaniard certainly played like a man who knows he won’t be on the club’s books for long.

It certainly won’t be a surprise to see him forced out of the London Stadium by Moyes in January. He looks to have checked out already.

In other West Ham United news, a senior man has reacted badly to his manager’s decision and is now set to leave the club in the near future.