When incoming manager Julen Lopetegui arrives at West Ham his first job will be a complete overhaul of his squad.
A war chest of £30m from West Ham’s European adventure will be available, with a further £30m from the billionaire owners in loans, money from previous transfers. Should Lucas Paqueta depart, it’s likely the club will hold out for £85m which is the sum they can demand for his exit clause and this money will similarly be put to good use.
Therefore, Tim Steiden could have around £145m to spend, not including monies from any additional player sales.
Angelo Ogbonna’s contract is expiring and the Italian has signalled he would be keen on a further one year deal, yet at 35 it’s unlikely the club will renew, so the player will leave on a free transfer.
Oddly enough it is rumoured that West Ham did offer Aaron Creswell (34) a one year contract, yet the free agent has declined and will seek new pastures, with suggestions Wolves will sign the left-back.
As I already mentioned in a previous article Ben Johnson has refused to sign a new contract and is likely to join Crystal Palace who have been tracking the player for some time.
With all these departures, further bad news follows, as Nayef Aguerd has made it clear that he wishes to leave the club, and is seeking a move abroad. There was hope within the club that with a new manager, who had previously tried to sign the Moroccan international that he could be swayed to stay, yet that doesn’t seem to be the case.
The club could force him to remain as his contact runs to June 2027. It is also unlikely West Ham will recoup the £30m they shelled out for the player in 2022.
Marseille have been linked with a loan to buy offer which serves no purpose, yet a big money move to the Saudi league, either Al-Itihad or Al Qadsiah could work for all parties.
The striker search is already underway
It is not guaranteed that Michail Antonio will still be at the London stadium next season. Danny Ings salary will put off many clubs, yet Divin Mubama will be leaving having barely kicked a ball in anger. The Newham born youngster has been with the club for over a decade. Some on social media have suggested he may have had his head turned by his agent and the lure of a signing on fee?
There are also suggestions that a new club will be announced not long after the 30th June.
West Ham did try and retain his services yet talks broke down back in March.
It’s a shame as previous moves away by Harrison Ashby, Jeremy Ngakia and Sonny Perkins are all good examples of transfers that haven’t necessarily worked well.
Other players set to leave include Thilo Kehrer and Said Benrahma. Flynn Downes will be given a chance to impress in pre-season, and Andrew Irving will join up for the first time when his loan at Austria Klagenfurt ends.
It clearly is going to be a very busy summer for Tim Steiden and the incoming back room staff!
Guest post by former OLAS writer Matt Kemp
If that £60m figure is correct. The dwarf chancer really is going to have the supporters on his back on an bigger scale than before the COVID break.
well done c and h why not tell everyone what our transfer kitty is really clever. talk about clubs pushing the price up on players already well done don’t talk about the transfer kitty at all its a really stupid thing to do and if you do know keep it to yourself
Danny Moyes has left. I find his football swashbuckling
If West Ham don’t spend £200mil. plus this summer, some serious questions need to be asked.
£60m LOL …. Is that it ?????? lol
So what about the money from scamaca aguerd Dawson vlasic benrahma and kehrer ? And our monies from conference league win and attendance and tv money plus premier league money and sky tv money? So that’s roughly £100m plus £145m plus premier league prize money £165m and sky tv money £ ???
I reckon someone’s knocked off a securicor van ,
So if we don’t sell Paqueta we only have 60m for 2xCBs, LW, ST, CM. RB. Don’t think so.
Shouldn’t it be a lot more …weren’t we net positive last year with the Rice money ?
Is it a given that the owners will put in £30m or is this being hopeful?
We have about £10m left over from last summer’s sales, Benny & Kehrer monies plus any surplus revenues from trading that FfP/sustainability rules allow and further player sales. Wages shouldn’t be too much of an issue with the number of players expected to leave.
My biggest worry is the more players we get (albeit need) the harder to generate a team spirit. We need a new captain as leadership is lacking on the pitch, the sooner signed the better and won’t come cheap if a proven leader.
It’s all speculation……let’s see what really happens, though it is very likely that Cresswell Ogbonna, and Johnson will leave on a free.
Why loans, last year we spent Rice money but had some other transfers out that effectively mate the window a profit i.e. no investment or use of normal transfer fees. Kehrer and other loan money plus transfer fees Benrahma, formal, Kehrer. If we are saying the annual TV money plus commercial sales Inc season tickets are all needed to break even then we are in trouble. With these departures plus Ings and maybe Antonio ( and Philips) wages that has to be close to half million a week of the wage bill. We need best part of 200m to get a striker, left back, right back 2 centre half’s and left winger even allowing for youth. Ideally 2 strikers.