There was a way out this season but it won’t be the next time if West Ham don’t strengthen their squad this summer.
Several new signings will be needed, as well as top quality ones to ensure the Hammers don’t have another calamitous campaign. Teams with far less money and resources have done better business than West Ham.
Call it poor recruitment policy or the board’s overambitious nature, West Ham need to come out of the idea that Hollywood signings are the only solution to their problems. The problems are graver and now that Moyes is gone, the new manager needs to address it by making shrewd acquisitions before the next season starts.
There are a couple of key positions that the new West Ham boss should definitely address in the summer and here are three players West Ham should consider signing in order to achieve a top-10 finish next season.
Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City)
Swansea City were relegated to the Championship this season, which ideally means there would be a lot of faces waiting to leave the Liberty stadium once the transfer window opens. One of Swansea’s stars in an otherwise dismal campaign was their goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Swansea’s defence leaked goals at a premium rate this past season but that shouldn’t devalue Fabianski, who has proved to be the most reliable man between the sticks in the Premier League this season. The former Arsenal man has ironed out his flaws in the last couple of seasons and is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the Premier League.
West Ham have had their goalkeeper conundrum with both Joe Hart and Adrian struggling to perform this season. While Hart’s loan deal is over, Adrian is simply not good enough to be a No.1 goalkeeper, which makes Fabianski’s addition a much-needed one for the Hammers.
Pontus Jansson (Leeds United)
No surprises that Leeds United’s big centre-back Pontus Jansson has made the Sweden squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.
Jansson has been one of the positives during a frustrating campaign for the Whites, consistently producing solid displays. He has been a revelation at Elland Road since joining from Torino.
The Swedish international’s excellent aerial ability and leadership qualities have seen his stock rise in England. The number of goals West Ham have conceded this season is crazy and signing Jansson would certainly solve the problem a little.
Jay Rodriguez (West Brom)
While West Ham’s defence had been all over the place this season, their attack, barring a few instances, was listless. Marko Arnautovic shouldered the responsibility of scoring goals as the Austrian blossomed in a centre-forward role under Moyes.
Javier Hernandez was signed amidst a lot of fanfare and after a bright start, he faded, whereas Andy Carroll was often brought from the bench to change the course of the game.
This clearly suggests that West Ham need a clinical striker in their ranks to reduce the burden from Arnautovic’s shoulders next season. With West Brom relegated, the Hammers must consider signing Jay Rodriguez.
Rodriguez has scored goals at Hawthorns this season but not at a premium rate. However, the striker has been successful in leaving behind the injury problems that affected his career.
West Ham need a clinical striker who can score 15-20 goals in a season and Rodriguez fits the bill perfectly.