West Ham United need to sign ‘five or six’ players, Jesse Lingard and Michael Keane should be targets – Pundit
West Ham United need to sign ‘five or six’ new players this summer and should be targeting the likes of Jesse Lingard and Michael Keane, according to Tony Cottee.
The Hammers are set for a busy transfer window as they look to bolster their squad after their excellent run in the Premier League and Europa League this season.
Former striker Cottee, who was speaking to MyBettingSites, believes that there could be a big overhaul at the London Stadium this summer and picked out a few players that could leave and that should be targeted as potential incomings.
“I think first and foremost West Ham should have signed players in the January window,” he said.
“That would have helped what’s going on. The main priority for West Ham in terms of this summer transfer window is to sign a centre-forward. They’ve had two years without a centre-forward.
“Michail Antonio is a fabulous player. I love watching him play but he is a converted right-back who became a centre-forward. He’s not a natural centre-forward, so I think the first thing they need to do is sign a centre-forward.
“Then you look at the midfield. They probably need four or five players coming into the squad. They’ve got quite a few players out of contract.
“What do you do with players like (Andriy) Yarmolenko, Alex Král and (Nikola) Vlasic who’s been very disappointing this year? These players haven’t quite progressed as they should have done at West Ham.
“There’s a big job on their hands. Manchester United struggles at the top and it is another club that needs a massive overhaul. West Ham needs to sign players like (Jesse) Lingard, like Michael Keane.
“Players like that, good English players, coming and buying into what David Moyes got going on and want to be a part of the squad and that good team spirit they’ve got there. So it’s a big summer for the club.
“West Ham, without a doubt, probably needs five or six new players into the squad. And also five or six players leaving so that’s a surplus of requirements. It’s exciting times at the football club.”
Boosts
West Ham need to bolster their squad with quality options and while Lingard was great for us on loan, another year of not playing means that boat may have passed.
Keane has struggled with Everton this season and could end up being relegated, so while he would likely be available for a cut-price whether he is of the level required is another question mark.
But Cottee raised questions about those that could leave including Kral, Yarmolenko and Vlasic and it’s a good point. Most Hammers would want three or four new players without any exits, so if they leave more would need to come in.
Moyes has already shown that he has no interest in signing players simply for the sake of it, so there will likely be plenty of scouting happening in the background.
But everyone seems to be on the same page when it comes to what’s needed this summer, so hopefully the people in charge are too.
In other West Ham news, Tony Cottee lets slip that West Ham have ‘done a deal’ for summer transfer
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