West Ham United are reportedly gearing up for a very big summer transfer window indeed.
Julen Lopetegui needs to make big changes to the West Ham squad, after years of poor planning from David Moyes.
We told you yesterday how Lopetegui has been given the remit of getting the Hammers back inside the top six in the Premier League.
In order to achieve that, the Spaniard is allegedly prioritising moves to strengthen his back four and the centre-forward department.
West Ham have achieved great success over the past four years, relatively speaking, and now Lopetegui faces the task of matching what Moyes achieved.
So with that in mind, it came as somewhat of a disappointment when it emerged yesterday that the 57-year-old Hammers boss will have a net spend budget of around £85-100 million this summer.
Considering the fact that we need so many new signings, that doesn’t sound like a lot of money but Tim Steidten built the current Bayer Leverkusen squad on a shoestring budget.
And the German will have to work diligently alongside Lopetegui in order to formulate a plan whereby the club can enjoy a successful summer transfer window.
Six new signings en route to West Ham
The West Ham fans will all be well aware of the task that lies ahead of Lopetegui.
One of his main priorities should be to reduce the average age of the squad. West Ham’s squad has an average age of 28.2 right now – the second oldest in the Premier League (Transfermarkt).
Before worrying about that though, Lopetegui just needs to get bodies through the door, especially considering the fact that up to 12 Hammers are being linked with the exit door at the London Stadium.
The former Sevilla boss seems to be intent on getting his squad up to scratch for the new Premier League season.
And a report has outlined Lopetegui’s extremely exciting plan…
According to a report from the Evening Standard, at least six new signings will be en-route to the London Stadium this summer.
I would suggest that he actually needs to sign a minimum of eight new players, probably more.
Fabricio Bruno appears to be the first signing in the Lopetegui era, and many more have clearly already been identified by the Spaniard and his partner in crime Steidten.
The key will be for the former Wolves boss to bring players in who suit his system. Far too often in the past, West Ham have signed players who are painfully ill-suited to the style of football we play – under Moyes epsecially.
Now’s the time for a fresh start, with a more professional approach to player recruitment. Let’s hope that the players Lopetegui signs this summer are all not only top-class, but good fits for his setup as well.
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