Dan Plumley highlights West Ham’s tough situation in a “who-wins” scenario with Ghana following their dispute preceding the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Mohammed Kudus, integral to West Ham, missed the Brighton game as he embarked on his AFCON journey while recovering from an injury.

Plumley, a finance expert, reveals a stark reality: clubs don’t receive compensation for releasing players in the midst of the season due to AFCON. Speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, he points out the absence of a comparable compensation package as seen in the World Cup.

“In a who-wins scenario, West Ham don’t get many wins in that regard,” Plumley laments, emphasizing the club’s loss in releasing players without compensation. He sheds light on the unique challenges posed by AFCON’s timing, occurring in the middle of the season. Comparing it to EUROs held in the summer, Plumley notes that AFCON’s timing creates a dilemma for both clubs and countries.

The finance expert emphasizes the challenges faced by clubs, as they grapple with losing key players without any compensation. Plumley acknowledges the difficulty in changing this unless there’s a structural shift in AFCON, such as moving it to the summer. Despite the hurdles, he underscores the importance of clubs approaching player signings with an awareness of the potential impact of AFCON’s timing.