Glaring Hammers Issue Still Needs Sorting

The saying “age is just a number” may be frequently used during the new season, as Lopetegui has inherited the oldest squad in the Premier League, with an average player age of 28.1 years.

It should be noted that Stuart Pearce, Nigel Winterburn, Billy Bonds, Teddy Sheringham, and Ian Wright all played for the Hammers in the twilight of their careers, so a footballer should be defined by their fitness and ability as much as by their age.

A blend of experience and youth is essential within most Premier League squads.

The recent sale of Nathan Trott means we now have three goalkeepers who are considered veterans: Fabianski (39), Foderingham (33), and the youngest and current first-team custodian, Areola (31).

In defence, players are approaching retirement age, with Aaron Cresswell, at 35, leading the charge, followed by Coufal, who turns 32 in August. Emerson and Zouma will both be 30 this year. The younger defenders are new signing Max Kilman (27) and Nayef Aguerd (28).

Midfield is actually populated by younger members, with George Earthy likely to feature at 19 and Luis Guilherme a sprightly 18 years old. Add Kudus and Irving, both 24, and it’s clear that there is plenty of youth in this area. Alvarez and Paqueta, both 27, add experience, while Jarrod Bowen will turn 28 in December and Cornet will be 28 in September. The elder statesmen are clearly Ward-Prowse, who turns 30 in November, and Soucek (29).

Up front, the squad features Antonio (34) and Danny Ings, who recently celebrated his 31st birthday on July 23.

Looking at recent transfer targets, Jhon Duran (21) and Reiss Nelson (25), both born in December, are younger options. Calum Wilson (32) and Arkadiusz Milik (30) actually increase the striker age profile!

It’s clear that Lopetegui needs to balance age effectively for the forthcoming season. It will be interesting to see who they bring in over the coming weeks and which youth team players are further integrated into the first team.