West Ham United appointed Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager on Tuesday, and he is already making plans in terms of recruitment this summer as he looks to take the club back into the top half of the Premier League table next season.
The 64-year-old has wasted no time in outlining how many players he is looking to add to his squad before the transfer window slams shut on August 9 – two days before the new campaign starts – with co-owner David Sullivan having the opportunity to go from zero to hero if he delivers these three new additions.
Speaking to whufc.com, the former Manchester City boss said: “I am sure that, with the players we have in this moment in the squad, and bringing maybe another four or five players in, we are going to have a strong team.”
It was clear to see that the east London outfit underperformed last term as they flirted with relegation despite bringing the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez to the London Stadium, and the Chilean seems determined to ensure they don’t find themselves in a similar situation again.
The Mirror suggests that he could be given £75m to spend, and he will already have identified the positions and players that he wants to strengthen, as well as perhaps the individuals that are surplus to requirements.
Here are the acquisitions that would perfectly meet Pellegrini’s request for four or five new signings…
West Ham switched between loanee Joe Hart and Adrian this season with both making mistakes during the campaign, and the former unlikely to return to the London Stadium, Pellegrini will surely be looking to bring a new goalkeeper to the club.
The 64-year-old may well want a stopper that is going to be an undoubted number one rather than competing with Adrian, and Jack Butland could be the perfect answer.
The England international enjoyed another impressive Premier League campaign despite Stoke City’s relegation to the Championship, and he could be available for a slightly reduced fee as a result – something that will please the east London club.
With Jose Fonte leaving for China in February, James Collins set to go when his contract expires next month and doubts over the future of Winston Reid after he has been hampered by injury in recent seasons, one of Pellegrini’s priorities will surely be to bring a new centre-back to the London Stadium.
The ideal candidate may well be Tarkowski, who was brilliant for Burnley this term as they finished seventh to qualify for the Europa League, while his impressive defensive displays and his aerial ability also saw him receive his first England cap back in March.
While Pablo Zabaleta was one of West Ham’s more impressive and consistent performers this season, it is clear to see that the east London outfit need to start looking to the future with the Argentine turning 34 at the start of 2019.
The ideal long-term successor for him at right-back may well be Fredericks, who will be playing in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday.
Even if the Cottagers do go up the 25-year-old, who is good defensively but also loves to get up and down the pitch, may move on as his contract is due to expire next month, meaning the Irons could get him on a free.
While West Ham have been linked with tall and strong defensive midfielders like William Carvalho and Leander Dendoncker in the past, Pellegrini may have a slightly different plan this summer.
The 64-year-old may choose to put faith in the likes of Cheikhou Kouyate and Pedro Obiang from a physical point of view in the middle of the park, and bring in a more mobile central midfielder who is able to bring the ball forward and take on opponents instead.
Reliable club insider @ExWHUemployee revealed on Twitter that the Chilean manager wants younger players with pace, and Red Bull Salzburg’s Haidara would certainly fit the bill after the 20-year-old impressed and helped his side reach the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Following on from that news about young players with pace, Pellegrini may well look to be reunited with a player he handed a Manchester City debut to.
The 64-year-old was manager when the club signed Fulham starlet Roberts, who has spent the previous two-and-a-half seasons on loan with Celtic.
The diminutive winger may well be on the move again this summer, and the 21-year-old would certainly add some pace and excitement to a West Ham frontline already containing Marko Arnautovic, Manuel Lanzini and Javier Hernandez.
Do you agree, West Ham fans? Let us know below.
