News revealed on ClaretandHugh yesterday that the Hammers are looking to sign six players this summer raises the big question who and which positions.

The who is a tricky one as ever although several names have been touted with Maxi Gomez the most prominent among them.

He has also been linked with Barcelona and Spurs but that arose only after the Hammers became deeply involved in negotiations last season and agents came along trying to whip the price up by starting an auction.

Gomez as an Andy Carroll type player is unlikely to fit into a Barca team and has been mentioned as a replacement for Fernando Llorente who could be leaving the club.

At €42 million that’s going to be too rich for Spurs’ blood and it’s unlikely that Gomez is ready to come in as a back up to Harry Kane.

West Ham have to be favourites!

At €42 million the club would be left with around £25m-£30m to fill the other positions where names are few and far between although Guillermo Maripan is a central defensive option at around £10 million is regularly mentioned.

We will need a short term goalkeeping option at relatively modest cost before Nathan Trott is ready to step up as No 2 and a replacement for Pedro Obiang who wants to return to Italy.

Midfield is not a major area of concern given the presence of Lanzini, Noble, Snodgrass, Rice, Yarmolenko and hopefully a fit Wlshere but should Obiang leave we can expect a not hugely expensive replacement to arrive.

A left back to replace Aaron Cresswell and a second striker would probably take the cost to around £70 million although should Edmilson Fernandes, Josh Cullen or both impress in pre season – which we understand they will be given the chance to do – the spend could be less.

Interesting days ahead with a senior Hammers source telling us by e mail that the club opes to tie up one or two over the next three weeks.