CandH Exclusive: Big Hammers squad problem

By Hughie Southon

West Ham will be very busy indeed finding British players to join the squad in the summer window.

And despite their claims they have no cash to spend this winter should options appear  – presumably cheaply – the board will dig up cash to buy given the big problem with the first team squad quota of home grown first teamers.

James Ward-Prowse

Currently only James Ward-Prowse and Jarrod Bowen hold serious first team options with Aaron Cresswell, Ben Johnson and Danny Ings available but all three likely to be allowed to leave in the summer of 2024.

English Premier league teams must have at least eight “homegrown” players on their squad. In addition, they may include up to 17 “non-homegrown” players up to a maximum of 25 players on the squad.

The other “homegrown” players include  academy prospects Dan Chesters, Divin Mubama, George Earthey and Lewis Orford – none of whom seem likely to make the first team next season.

Claret and Hugh’s main insider at the club told us this morning (Sat): “We have to buy some British players next season as we’ll be so short of home grown guys.”