Could Chelsea loanee Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall be the next man at the London Stadium this January? It’s the talk of the town, and it sounds like a ‘one club’s bench warmer is another club’s savior’ kind of thing. But Dewsbury-Hall could soon be a big name to introduce into Graham Potter’s new West Ham project after struggling for minutes under Enzo Maresca.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s Chelsea Blues: What Went Wrong?
Last summer, Chelsea splashed out £30m on Brazilian midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and fans desperately hoped that a future midfield maestro had arrived. Rather, they have been left wondering whether they just bought a hologram. Dewsbury Hall was the main asset on loan to Leicester City last season as the Foxes won promotion to the Premier League. And his appearances at Chelsea have been as fleeting as a referee who does not get booed at Stamford Bridge.
Dewsbury-Hall’s Chelsea dream hasn’t exactly unfolded as expected, with just five Premier League substitute appearances for Chelsea and a couple of stints in the Carabao Cup and Conference League. I bet he’s thinking, “I left Leicester for this?”
Graham Potter’s Plan: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to West Ham?
If West Ham sacked Julen Lopetegui (they probably did just that; who else is available?), now Graham Potter is desperate. Potter’s first priority? He wants to improve the midfield and already has his sights on Dewsbury-Hall.
Reports suggest Potter thinks Dewsbury-Hall is a vital cog in his West Ham engine. The thing is, West Ham could do with a fresh face in midfield—someone who isn’t there for vibes, someone who actually wants to play. For Hammers, if they want them to stop falling back on the old Declan Rice nostalgia reels, then Dewsbury Hall’s tenacity and ability to carry the ball is a real game changer.
But the question remains: Will Chelsea let him go? Or they are still going to discipline him like that one unread email inside your inbox, something you’ll get to someday.
Maresca’s Take on Dewsbury-Hall’s Future
Compared to Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca thinking about Dewsbury-Hall leaving, he’s not doing cartwheels, but he’s not handcuffing him to the dressing room radiator.
When asked about the midfielder’s future, Maresca gave the most diplomatic answer possible: “But I’m happy with Kiernan’s performances; if he wants to go, we won’t stop him.” Translation? It’s just we like him; if West Ham is offering a decent deal, we’re not going to cry about it.
Maresca clearly has a lot of respect for Dewsbury-Hall’s work ethic, but Chelsea’s midfield is full, the sort of back-of-the-bus, grasping-the-pole kind of full.
Why West Ham Would Be a Perfect Fit for Kiernan
The thing here is that Dewsbury-Hall isn’t a bad player. In fact, he is a top-line Premier League midfielder, surely. The issue with Chelsea is they’re like that restaurant; you order a burger, and they give you a plate with foam and edible flowers—too many things to choose from, with nobody really knowing how to use them.
Dewsbury-Hall would get the playing time he craves at West Ham. Potter also boasts of being able to bring the best out of players. He helped turn Brighton into a force, remember? At West Ham, he could do the same with Dewsbury-Hall.
Author’s Opinion: Why This Move Makes Sense
I like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to West Ham—a win for everyone if you ask me. West Ham is in desperate need of fresh energy in midfield, and Chelsea isn’t giving him the time he deserves. I would love to see Dewsbury-Hall fly at the London Stadium as a fan of his kind of story. If that helps Potter’s West Ham finish above Chelsea this season, wouldn’t that be the ultimate plot twist?
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