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Diafra Sakho a no-show for Arsenal draw, West Ham future in question

Reuters

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho's tenure with the east London side appears to be on thin ice after the Senegalese international failed to show for Saturday's lunchtime draw with Arsenal.

Sakho, 26, was reportedly angry Friday upon hearing that he was held out of Slaven Bilic's starting XI, which was followed by a training ground tirade and now-deleted message on social media that read, "When I am hated I don’t care a f***. I do everything to be more hated," according to the Evening Standard.

A source with intimate knowledge of the situation said the comments had nothing to do with West Ham or Bilic.

Sakho was not with his teammates Friday night at the squad hotel, nor was he present the following day at Upton Park, prompting speculation about his future with the club.

Bilic conceded post-match that Sakho was carrying a slight knee injury that would likely rule him out for a midweek FA Cup quarter-final replay with Manchester United, though the striker's absence from a contracted retail appearance has fueled rumours of his displeasure with the Irons.

West Ham co-chairman David Gold attempted to play down the reasons for Sakho's absence on Twitter, echoing Bilic's statement that the 26-year-old Metz academy product was ill.

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