West Ham are heading into one of the most dramatic squad overhauls in years regardless of which Division they find themselves in. And if reports are believed to be true, it’s no wonder that a Director of Football is required as it will be a summer defined by loans, exits, and potentially even a new manager reshaping the identity of the club.
Gonzo has already addressed the rumours surrounding Edson Álvarez and Ajax, yet when fully recovered from injuries a return to Amsterdam makes sense for all parties. Ajax want leadership and familiarity in midfield, Álvarez needs rhythm after an inconsistent season, and West Ham want to protect his value while reducing the wage bill, a straight loan with an option to buy clause feels the most realistic. If the Hammers are relegated the Mexican international’s wages will halve making him more affordable for the Dutch giants. He has two years left on his contract.
Rumours and speculation suggest the likely names on the whiteboard at Rush Green could look something like this:
Matheus Fernandes — The crown jewel of the window. With interest from Manchester United, PSG, and Chelsea, Fernandes is expected to leave for a fee that could become the second‑highest sale in West Ham history, behind Declan Rice. A bidding war is very possible.
Niclas Füllkrug will almost certainly be shipped out to the Bundesliga on loan or a permanent deal. The German striker hasn’t settled in England. Stuttgart or Hoffenheim have been mooted as the most logical suitors.
Maxwel Cornet needs a reset, yet given injuries it’s likely that he will leave by mutual consent.
Alphonse Areola’s wages make him a prime candidate for a loan. Roma and Monaco have been linked with experienced keepers, both fit the profile.
Callum Wilson — Released
Claret & Hugh have already covered this in a previous article.
Lukasz Fabiański — Released
Though may be retained in the capacity of a goalkeeping coach.
Axel Disasi — loan deal expires: Sadly he’ll have other admirers ready and willing after his eye-catching spell in east London.
Disasi will come out of the relegation battle with huge credit, whatever the outcome
Adama Traoré — Released – short term deal expires. Expected to move to the Middle East or Turkey.
So that’s 9 players departing, and that’s just based on retaining Premier League football, Keiber LaMadrid and George Earthy could make that 11 players.
Now comes the hard part should the Hammers be relegated as the departure lounge suddenly gets very busy!
These are just my first thoughts and a lot can change between now and the new season.
Jean‑Clair Todibo – Todibo’s situation is complicated. His talent is clear, but injuries and inconsistency mean a loan, which could be the compromise solution.
Crysencio Summerville — A bright spell at West Ham has put him back on the radar of Champions League clubs. Dortmund, Roma and Napoli are the strongest candidates. Likely to be sold.
Taty Castellanos — Sold
Flamengo and some mid‑table La Liga sides have shown interest. A permanent move feels inevitable.
Soungoutou Magassa — A player with potential but, who has made it clear, he doesn’t want to play in the Championship. Serie A clubs have registered an interest with a loan the most likely outcome.
Konstantinos Mavropanos — Sold
Bundesliga clubs remain admirers. Eintracht Frankfurt and Leverkusen have both tracked him.
Tomáš Souček — Sold
A long‑serving figure who may move on as the midfield is rebuilt. Turkey or Italy look the most likely landing spots. Again while Soucek loves the club he has no desire to play in the Championship.
Pablo Felipe – Sold – Originally, it was believed he would stay, yet his agent Jorge Mendes is allegedly already in talks with other Premier League clubs, including Brentford and Bournemouth.
Given all this turnover, there is one bright light, that being the whisper that Jarrod Bowen might be – potentially – staying on next season ‘whatever’.
Bowen remains the face of the club. The club see him as the cornerstone of the attack and a leader in the dressing room. Whether wishful thinking or training ground scuttlebutt, it seems there is a possibility of Bowen remaining at the club next year – unless of course the player himself hands in a transfer request which he’d be quite entitled to do. If he stays, Bowen could become the one bright light in a very dark summer.
Given a smaller squad and despite the need for alot of incoming transfers, James Ward‑Prowse is likely to return to the first team X1. After a turbulent season, JWP is expected to be revitalised if a new manager comes in, especially if that manager is Scott Parker.
It should also be recognised while there will be a number of disgruntled players, some may just have to stay, at least until the January window, as an exodus of eighteen players is simply unrealistic.
However, this summer’s transfer window will hardly be described as a tweak – it’s a Frankenstein’s monster of a rebuild.
If we are relegated Please not Scott Parker !
His football is laboured and while he did take Fulham , Bournemouth and Burnley straight up he also took Fulham and Burnley straight down . He left Bournemouth a few games into the season after losing 9-0 at Liverpool and blaming the board !!
We need an attacking manager who wants to play on the front foot .
If the returning ward Prowse is going to be considered a first team regular and seen as a revitalised player even as he trudges around the midfield offering the square root of nothing then we are in serious trouble and we have an even bigger issue than any of us thought. Add in the fact that sulli is in control of transfers and all I see is chaos and yet more dreadful business, I can see the likes of Milner and Fabian schar being right up sullis street
Just very negative thoughts in ‘your’ mind! Hopefully Sullivan & Kretinsky will have more positive thoughts about holding our best players to their contract to get us back up immediately to protect their investments (as recommended by Man United supporter Gary Neville)
Roy!!! After all these years you trust in Sullivan? We have had the heart and sole ripped away from our club and we are 200 million in debt..even if we stay up the best players will be sold.
If this happens you either need a full rebuild from the lower divisions and under 21 squad and hope it works or look at what life will be like in divisions below the championship. If we get relegated you have to point the blame in two areas. 1 the board who are not up to the job. 2 the officials of the game who seem to kick us down with not with one but many wrong/ poor decisions when we do start to get a foott hold on saving our selves. If you think that the officials is a pointless argument you only have to look further than the premiership with that decision of handball in the Celtic game. You can’t tell me thats the right decision by var or someone is not taking a back hander. Football seems to be only run by money at the moment and if continues it will fade and die as a favorite game of the country.