Fan blogger Toby Fry looks at where the Hammers need to strengthen this summer
Fan blogger Toby Fry looks at where the Hammers need to strengthen this summer...
It's that crazy time again, the summer transfer window. Many players in and many players out of every club around the globe. Even more than that the rumours will be constant and somewhat painstaking.
With the imminent move to the Olympic Stadium and the ever increasing monetary power of English Premier League clubs these rumours will be evermore rife for West Ham United.
Rumours aside where do The Hammers realistically need to improve personnel wise?
Most importantly the club could do with a serial goalscorer, something you could argue has been found wanting in the Premier League era. The trouble with this predicament is that scoring goals is the essence of the game as thus guaranteed goalscorers cost fortunes. Three names in this area have been highly suggested as possible West Ham signings; Alexandre Lacazette, Michy Batshuayi and Carlos Bacca.
All three are what you could call proven goalscorers in Europe's top leagues. Batshuayi is the youngest of the three at 22 years and one of Europe's most promising forwards. Lacazette on the other hand is 25 and ready to shine at one of the world's top clubs. The French international has been with Lyon his entire youth and professional career, but it may soon be time for him to test himself outside of the French Ligue 1.
Bacca is a Colombian centre-forward who certainly knows where the goal is. The two time Europa League winner with Sevilla is currently with AC Milan, but West Ham are reportedly on his tail. My preference in this position (from the three likely candidates) would be Michy Batshuayi. I think he's likely to be on the expensive side being that he's so young, but the Belgian international has plenty of room to grow and I could see him leading the West Ham line superbly in the Olympic Stadium for many years.
The defence is also a position in which the Hammers can improve for the following campaign. Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna, James Tomkins and James Collins are our first-choice centre-halves, and on paper this seems good enough. I would personally like to see the two Reeces, Oxford and Burke, given a chance prior to any signing. If it is then clear that they will not be enough to cover for Reid, Ogbonna and the two Jameses then a central defensive transfer should take priority.
I also believe defensively Slaven needs to purchase one or two right-backs. Antonio did an excellent job in filling in last campaign but it's far from ideal, if only because it limits one of the finest English wingers in the division *nudge nudge Roy Hodgson*. I've heard through the grapevine that the PSG duo of Serge Aurier and Gregory Van Der Wiel are of interest to Bilic, but I'm sure that list is quite substantial and West Ham must first and foremost secure the signing of any capable right-back in this transfer window.
It's certainly exciting to think that West Ham are just a regular goalscorer and a few defenders away from mounting a serious top four Premier League finish, and I genuinely believe that is the case. Though it must be said, bringing in the right personnel is easier said than done!
You can follow Toby on Twitter @TheTobyFry
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United
It's that crazy time again, the summer transfer window. Many players in and many players out of every club around the globe. Even more than that the rumours will be constant and somewhat painstaking.
With the imminent move to the Olympic Stadium and the ever increasing monetary power of English Premier League clubs these rumours will be evermore rife for West Ham United.
Rumours aside where do The Hammers realistically need to improve personnel wise?
Most importantly the club could do with a serial goalscorer, something you could argue has been found wanting in the Premier League era. The trouble with this predicament is that scoring goals is the essence of the game as thus guaranteed goalscorers cost fortunes. Three names in this area have been highly suggested as possible West Ham signings; Alexandre Lacazette, Michy Batshuayi and Carlos Bacca.
All three are what you could call proven goalscorers in Europe's top leagues. Batshuayi is the youngest of the three at 22 years and one of Europe's most promising forwards. Lacazette on the other hand is 25 and ready to shine at one of the world's top clubs. The French international has been with Lyon his entire youth and professional career, but it may soon be time for him to test himself outside of the French Ligue 1.
Bacca is a Colombian centre-forward who certainly knows where the goal is. The two time Europa League winner with Sevilla is currently with AC Milan, but West Ham are reportedly on his tail. My preference in this position (from the three likely candidates) would be Michy Batshuayi. I think he's likely to be on the expensive side being that he's so young, but the Belgian international has plenty of room to grow and I could see him leading the West Ham line superbly in the Olympic Stadium for many years.
The defence is also a position in which the Hammers can improve for the following campaign. Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna, James Tomkins and James Collins are our first-choice centre-halves, and on paper this seems good enough. I would personally like to see the two Reeces, Oxford and Burke, given a chance prior to any signing. If it is then clear that they will not be enough to cover for Reid, Ogbonna and the two Jameses then a central defensive transfer should take priority.
I also believe defensively Slaven needs to purchase one or two right-backs. Antonio did an excellent job in filling in last campaign but it's far from ideal, if only because it limits one of the finest English wingers in the division *nudge nudge Roy Hodgson*. I've heard through the grapevine that the PSG duo of Serge Aurier and Gregory Van Der Wiel are of interest to Bilic, but I'm sure that list is quite substantial and West Ham must first and foremost secure the signing of any capable right-back in this transfer window.
It's certainly exciting to think that West Ham are just a regular goalscorer and a few defenders away from mounting a serious top four Premier League finish, and I genuinely believe that is the case. Though it must be said, bringing in the right personnel is easier said than done!
You can follow Toby on Twitter @TheTobyFry
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United