West Ham United’s transfer budget has been confirmed for the summer window and a star could be sold after just a year.
There’s no use beating around the bush, West Ham need to spend big and well this summer transfer window.
The Hammers had the fourth worst record of any club in the second half of the season, winning just five of their 25 games.
That is the kind of form that will have a team involved in a relegation scrap.
New head coach Julen Lopetegui has it all to prove having been an underwhelming choice to replace David Moyes.
But first he must focus on a sizeable Hammers rebuild alongside technical director Tim Steidten.
Lopetegui and Steidten plot major rebuild
The Spaniard will have an input on signings but Steidten is leading recruitment.
There was exciting news over the weekend when it was claimed the first three of what is likely to be eight or nine signings have all but been secured ahead of the opening of the international window on July 1st.
With Lopetegui taking over a threadbare 16 or 17-man squad from Moyes, that kind of transfer efficiency is music to the ears of West Ham fans.
What is clear from his time at Wolves, and the way he left, is that Lopetegui demands investment from his owners.
Now the West Ham transfer budget has been confirmed and a star could be sold after just a year to supplement it.
Budget confirmed and star could be sold
Board insider Sean Whetstone claims Steidten and Lopetegui will have over £100m to spend.
But he also states James Ward-Prowse – who was signed by Moyes for £30m – could be sold on to raise extra funds.
West Ham would have had nearly double that figure to spend had Lucas Paqueta been sold to Man City for £85m as planned.
But with a three-person panel set to decide the fate of his career, the Brazilian will be going nowhere.
“Assuming Lucas Paqueta does NOT now leave this summer West Ham should have around £100m to spend on transfers,” Whetstone said.
“That is based on around £30m net spend budgeted for finishing 9th this season plus £30m of additional revenue from the Europa League plus £40m of player sales assuming Benny (Said Benrahma) is sold £15m and (Flynn) Downes is sold (for) around £15.5m on top of (Thilo) Kehrer already sold for £9.5m.
“Further player sales such (Nayef) Aguerd, (Danny) Ings, (Michail) Antonio or James Ward-Prowse would add more to the summer transfer pot.”
Ward-Prowse divides opinion at West Ham
Ward-Prowse divides opinion at West Ham. He clearly brings a lot to the team in terms of set-pieces. But some argue he does not do enough in open play.
But this is the first time it has been suggested the £30m midfielder could be sold.
West Ham are on course to announce record profits of over £360m in their next set of accounts.
With Steidten ready to unveil three signings, it means West Ham will have to find another five or six to give Lopetegui a full complement to work with.
Unlike Moyes, who had constructed the smallest and second oldest squad in the top flight, the Spaniard likes to work with a full-sized 25-man squad.
The Hammers have been linked with a plethora of players from South America, Portugal, Spain and the Championship.
Signing two new centre-backs and a striker is Steidten and Lopetegui’s reported priority.
Whether that means the three initial transfers that have been lined up tick those boxes remains to be seen.