The Hammers need to improve their defense, but this summer, player sales could be the main topic of discussion. A year ago, West Ham entered the summer transfer window in dire need of a makeover, with Mark Noble’s departure making headlines amid a sea change in the dressing room.
However, with some of the new players still developing and the club’s administration eager to avoid similar mistakes, Danny Ings in January and eight summer acquisitions did not quite complete the job.
West Ham’s Top Priorities In The summer Transfer Window
A midfield overhaul will be necessary due to Declan Rice’s likely departure, who is Arsenal’s top transfer target. The good news is that Paqueta is beginning to resemble the player West Ham anticipated would be acquired for a club-record fee last summer, and he can be the center of a revamped midfield.
The Hammers are hoping that a transfer fee of around £100 million will help the club’s finances, but replacing Rice is unlikely to be a one-man job, especially given that only Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, and Flynn Downes are projected to be available at the start of the following season, David Moyes has likely survived the full season with just one center midfielder.
What Else Does West Ham Require?
Full-back has been an issue all season, with Vladimir Coufal, Thilo Kehrer, Aaron Cresswell, Ben Johnson, and Emerson Palmieri all failing to produce anything resembling a consistent campaign.
Another center-back might be pursued, as Craig Dawson was not replaced in January, both Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd have been injured, and Angelo Ogbonna is getting older (and has yet to agree to a new contract).
Possible In And Outs For West Ham
Moyes has indicated that he will seek players with proven Premier League experience this summer, after being irritated by the time it took for last year’s significant foreign arrivals to adjust to English football. Following Southampton’s relegation, James Ward-Prowse is a strong midfield target, and the club is also keeping an eye on the circumstances of Kalvin Phillips and Conor Gallagher at their respective teams.
However, future imports are likely to be dependant on outgoings, particularly at center-forward, where the signings of Ings and Gianluca Scamacca have done nothing to alleviate a long-standing issue. West Ham and Harvey Barnes have been mentioned in connection with the Englishman’s likely departure from relegated Leicester.
Although West Ham’s squad is, at least numerically, well-stocked, it will be necessary to make some sales in order to create place for any new additions, particularly if the side loses to Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final next month in order to secure a second season in Europe.
Along with Rice, Manuel Lanzini is prepared to depart the team when his contract expires. Ogbonna and Lukasz Fabianski both have contracts that are about to expire, but both are probably going to stay. It’s feared that Gianluca Scamacca, who struggled to adjust in the UK, would be persuaded to go back to Italy.
