Mark Noble admits transfer window 'unsettled' West Ham | OneFootball

West Ham captain Mark Noble has admitted the January transfer window was “unsettling” for the club.

The Hammers started the month well but lost each of their last three games as a number of players were linked with moves away.

Noble, for one, was glad to see the back of the transfer window.

“I have to say I was 100 per cent relieved when it was finally all over for another year,” the midfielder wrote in his Evening Standard column.

“As with the Dimitri Payet situation a couple of seasons ago, this window has been thoroughly unsettling for West Ham.”

Striker Marko Arnautović admitted he wanted a move to the Chinese Super League during the last month. That did not come to fruition and he has since signed a new contract at the London Stadium.

Noble, though, remains sure that it impacted the team.

“Of course the Marko Arnautović speculation became the centre of attention but, in fact, every one of our strikers has been linked with possible moves in the past couple of weeks.

“That has to have an effect on everyone, not just the players concerned but all the squad.

“I’m not making any excuses for our past two performances but it must have had an adverse effect.”

As well as Premier League defeats to Bournemouth (2-0) and Wolves (3-0), West Ham also suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit against AFC Wimbledon.

Now the window is closed, they will be hoping to turn things around. But that won’t be easy. Next up for Manuel Pellegrini’s side is the visit of league leaders Liverpool on Monday night.