Julen Lopetegui to sanction four exits for new transfer at West Ham United
Frank McAvennie has told Julen Lopetegui to “get rid” of Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings, Michael Antonio and Tomas Soucek to free up wages at West Ham.
The aforementioned quartet have all been listed as players who the club could be open to selling before 30 August, as per The Times, with the Hammers now switching their transfer priority to outgoings [Fabrizio Romano].
Lopetegui has transformed the squad at the London Stadium from what David Moyes was working with last season, and McAvennie believes the four named above could still depart this summer.
Speaking exclusively to West Ham Zone, McAvennie said: “I think Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings and Michail Antonio could all leave. Get rid of the three of them for their wages.
“I like Coufal buy with the new boy, Wan-Bissaka, he’s going to be second fiddle. He won’t want to do that. Add Tomas Soucek to that, four players could be out the door this summer. That would leave room for someone else to come in.”
West Ham United to sell quartet of players before 30 August
Considering that the London-based club have signed nine new players, including Mohamadou Kante who has been loaned back to Paris FC, the squad is rather full right now.
It is so full that Lopetegui is finding it difficult to bring the new signings into the starting XI, with Guido Rodriguez and Max Kilman the only two new faces in the lineup against Crystal Palace on Saturday 24 August.
Despite this, the Spaniard’s new style of play has clearly taken effect already, with the Hammers claiming an all-important three points at Selhurst Park – their first win of the Premier League campaign.
While Lopetegui continues to work on his team, the behind-the-scenes staff will be working overboard in order to find new homes for some of the surplus players before the transfer window slams shut.
And even with only a handful of days remaining until the window closes, a plethora of exits could open up some wages to bring in one more key signing for Lopegetegui to work with as McAvennie suggests.
In other West Ham news, Lucas Paqueta grabbed a 9/10 rating as the MOTM v Crystal Palace, with one player sinking to 4/10 rating.