Julen Lopetegui can have no excuses after dream West Ham transfer window
West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has the new-look squad he wanted after four out-of-favour players left in the shadows of Deadline Day.
Lopetegui had been keen to move on as many players from the fringes of his squad as possible, and got his wish after previous captain Kurt Zouma’s exit being confirmed completed four last-ditch departures [whufc.com, 31 August].
James Ward-Prowse and Nayef Aguerd’s loans to Nottingham Forest and Real Sociedad respectively went through on 30 August, with Maxwel Cornet and Zouma both departing on loan the following day.
Zouma has since been pictured at Al-Orobah, his new club in Saudi Arabia [X, 1 September], and with Lopetegui finalising his new-look squad, the Spaniard will now be under pressure to perform.
Pressure on West Ham after transformational transfer window
When appointed in May, Lopetegui likely couldn’t have dreamed for a summer transfer window in which so much went his way, and by the end of it the Spaniard has a squad entirely of his making.
That may prove to be a double-edged sword for the 58-year-old, with the onus on him to get the best out of a new-look side which has had over £120million spent on it over the last few months.
Loan deals for Jean-Clair Todibo and PSG’s Carlos Soler on transfer Deadline Day have also followed as well as some high-profile exits, giving Lopetegui a squad capable of achieving European qualification.
While Ward-Prowse, Aguerd and Cornet are all expected to return at the conclusion of their season-long deals, Zouma’s loan being accompanied by a mandatory buyout clause shows his time in East London is done [Fabrizio Romano, 26 August].
Moving supposed dead wood out of the door and replacing it with several big-money arrivals in a single transfer window is a dream for any manager, and Lopetegui will now be feeling the pressure to deliver at the London Stadium.
In other West Ham news, Lopetegui wants the Irons to go back in for a long-term attacking target in the January transfer window.
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