WSL club West Ham United have announced that they will be letting go of five senior players in the ongoing summer transfer window -they are Lucy Parker, Grace Fisk, Brooke Cairns, Sophie Hillyerd and Kate Longhurst [via BBC Sport].

In a statement on West Ham’s club website regarding the releases, it reads: “West Ham United Women can confirm the players that will be departing the Club when their contracts expire at the end of the month. Grace Fisk, Lucy Parker, Brooke Cairns and Sophie Hillyerd will all be moving on when their deals conclude.

“Kate Longhurst will also leave the Hammers after five seasons, as announced at the end of May before our final fixture of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.

“Everyone at West Ham United would like to thank Kate, Amalie, Grace, Lucy, Sophie and Brooke for the time they have spent with the Club. We thank them for the roles that they have played in the Club’s journey, and we wish them every success for the future.”

Which of the five players will West Ham miss the most in the WSL?

Of the five players they have lost, Lucy Parker is arguably the greatest loss. Aged just 24, she still has a fair amount of developing to do.

Moreover, she has also been part of the England U19 and U21 squads – international experience can be a godsend to players’ development and confidence in the long run.

Could West Ham be in relegation trouble next season?

Despite these losses, we feel that West Ham should still be fine for next season – teams such as Brighton, Leicester City and Bristol City are all in weaker positions than the Hammers as things stand.

Additionally, Tottenham Hotspur also struggled enormously towards the back end of last season – if they bring their poor form into the 2023/24 campaign, their survival is not guaranteed.

Losing five players in such a manner is far from ideal, but it is not enough to condemn the Irons to relegation – especially when the window is still open. Replacements can be made, but they must ensure that they get them right.