€99.8m spent already 

©TM/IMAGO

We are now right in the thick of the summer transfer window, with new big deals getting confirmed every day. Some clubs have been more active than others, and one team who have been experiencing a lot of change has been West Ham. Whilst there can be little doubt David Moyes did a superb job with the Hammers, helping them lift their first European trophy in 64 years, as they won the Europa Conference League in 2022, things did begin to get a little stale last season. Many fans were growing unhappy with the slightly negative style of play, and lack of spark and flair. However, this season looks set to be a campaign brimming with excitement for the Hammers faithful, with several new signings already through the door and strong reports more incomings are on the way.

The signing of Niclas Füllkrug for €27 million + €5m in add-ons was confirmed this Monday and takes West Ham summer spending to €99.8m. Five new arrivals have already walked through the door and new manager Julen Lopetegui looks set to have a lot more options that his predecessor in both attacking and defensive positions. So how could West Ham line up this season? And how high could this team finish in the Premier League under the former Spain and Real Madrid boss Lopetegui?

How West Ham could line up?

As well as Füllkrug, West Ham have confirmed the signings of winger Crysencio Summerville from Leeds for €29.3m, centre-half Max Kilman from Wolves for €47.5m, and Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme from Brazilian side Palmeiras for €23m. The East London club is also expected to confirm the free transfer of Argentine international midfielder Guido Rodríguez early this week. As well as this, the club are thought to have a very keen interest in bringing in Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and are working to agree a fee with the Red Devils who are reportedly open to selling the Englishmen. So what kind of side will Lopetegui be able to field? Potentially a very exciting one.

West Ham would have the opportunity to line up with a very exciting, yet also very balanced front four of Mohammed Kudus just behind Füllkrug, with last season’s top scorer Jarrod Bowen on the right-wing and new signing Summerville off the left. Then to allow the talent of that front four to flourish, Lopetegui could opt to line up Rodríguez next to Mexican Edson Álvarez to add some steel. Other options in centre-midfield could be James Ward-Prowse or Tomas Soucek. Emerson is likely to start at left-back, with potentially Wan-Bissaka in at the right of the defence. New signing Kilman could start alongside Konstantinos Mavrapanos, Nayef Aguerd or Kurt Zouma at centre-half, with Alphonso Areola in between the sticks.