Manuel Pellegrini has admitted his squad is almost ready but said he has two more weeks to decide on some things before the season starts.
The manager told the official West Ham website post-match “The squad is almost ready. We have a couple of weeks more to decide on some things before the season starts. We’re happy though. We have two players in each position and we already have more than one year working. We started last season with nine new players and, of course, a new manager. I hope we will improve again this season.”
Pellegrini has been given funds for one more squad player of his choice following the departure of Pedro Obiang and Marcus Browne but also he must decide whether he would allow Javier Hernandez to leave if a formal bid came in but more importantly whether he would have enough time to sign a striker replacement within budget.
Unless he is being replaced Hernandez should be staying he scored some goals that changed matches and with Haller up top he should be more of a threat than when playing with Arnautovic. Never mind a squad player we need another left back and striker as a minimum.
Hernandez needs to be sold this window. again yesterday was proof. We will never play many games with two up top. Our style simple does not suit Hernandez. By selling Hernandez and bringing in a DM and a forward (who can play on the right and up top – left footer would be great who has pace and technique) we will be in very good shape. Then we could have the option of playing Fornals as an 8 in midfield with Rice. They need to be quality signings. I also believe we need to send Cullen, Diangana out on loan in this window.