McAvennie strongly criticized West Ham United for their decision to sell Flynn Downes to Southampton this summer. Downes, who had impressed during a loan spell at St Mary’s Stadium last season, officially joined Southampton on a four-year deal on July 16th. Reports suggest Southampton paid around £18 million for his transfer.
McAvennie, speaking to West Ham Zone, expressed his disbelief at the decision, especially considering Downes’ potential and his ties to West Ham. He suggested that Downes, who joined West Ham for £12 million in 2022 from Swansea City, could have been given another season on loan and brought back later. McAvennie also speculated that West Ham might regret the decision in the future, potentially having to pay a much higher price, possibly up to £50 million, to bring him back.
Despite Downes’ strong start at West Ham as a fan favorite since his arrival, his future became uncertain after being loaned out last season by manager David Moyes. At Southampton, Downes became a pivotal player under Russell Martin, contributing significantly to their promotion back to the Premier League.
Similar to McAvennie’s viewpoint, many fans share the belief that West Ham United’s decision to sell Downes could prove costly in the future. They anticipate that Downes will continue to develop and improve each year, suggesting that this move might be one that the club comes to regret.
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