West Ham United are just 10 days away from seeing their 2022/23 Premier League season get underway against defending champions Manchester City at the London Stadium.
Ahead of the upcoming campaign, David Moyes’ side have so far spent north of £80million on four summer signings, with Gianluca Scamacca’s arrival from Sassuolo earlier this week following deals completed for Alphonse Areola, Nayef Aguerd and Flynn Downes.
However, with a season ahead that could lead to as many as 69 matches in all competitions, and a minimum of 42, Moyes may need further reinforcements ahead of the campaign as he looks to add numbers and quality to a West Ham side that finished seventh in last season’s Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.
READ MORE: The two players West Ham are currently ‘favourites’ to sign after summer spending reaches £80m
Ahead of the season, here is a look at the options West Ham have in each position and four positions where Moyes may look to continue to strengthen, with an August that includes five Premier League games and two Europa Conference League qualifying matches lurking around the corner.
Goalkeepers
With Areola moving to the London Stadium, he and Fabianski are the club’s two primary goalkeeping options, with Darren Randolph and Nathan Trott also in the club’s ranks. Fabianski was used as first-choice in the Premier League last term, while Areola was used in cup competitions, mainly in the Europa League.
The club also have Darren Randolph and Nathan Trott both in the club’s ranks ahead of the new season, although barring an injury crisis, it is unlikely that either of them will be used much.
Defenders
At right-back, the Hammers have Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson as Moyes’ two options and with Johnson handed the number two shirt this summer following the departure of Ryan Fredericks, it is a sign of his emergence and the faith that West Ham have in him for the future.
At centre-back, Aguerd’s £30m arrival takes West Ham’s senior options to five, with Kurt Zouma and Craig Dawson also the front runners to vie alongside him for minutes. Moyes also has Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna at his disposal, giving Moyes to move to a back five at times, should he wish.
The Hammers do have two left-backs in Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku, although it has been heavily reported that Moyes wants to sign a new left sided player that can play as a winger and at wing-back, with both Filip Kostic and Maxwel Cornet linked.
That would suggest that Moyes wants to bolster the quality of options in that position, making it the first of four West Ham should consider signing in this summer.
Midfielders
A second position comes in the middle of midfield. The Hammers have signed Essex-born hammers fan Flynn Downes this summer from Swansea City, but would only take West Ham to three senior central midfielders alongside Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. Conor Coventry has impressed at times in pre-season, but West Ham still only have three midfielders to their name with proper senior experience, so adding a fourth for rotation and to bolster the club’s depth may be a smart option.
On the right wing, Jarrod Bowen is the club’s only winger whose main position is on that side following the exit of Andriy Yarmolenko at the end of his contract in east London. While others including Nikloa Vlasic and Said Benrahma could play there as a makeshift, a natural right-sided back-up for Bowen makes sense. It is the only position where the club have just one option and while Bowen is a largely fit and injury free talent, the ability to rotate him will still be crucial.
In attacking midfield, Manuel Lanzini remains the primary option to play in the number 10 role, having the secondary Vlasic in as back-up. On the left, Pablo Fornals is expected to be preferred to Benrahma, although if Moyes signs Cornet, Kostic or another left winger, that would throw another option into the equation.
Strikers
After left-back, central midfield and right wing, another position that could be improved is up front. United have new signing Scamacca and Michail Antonio vying for the two positions up front, but a third option would not go a miss. Qualifying for the group stages of the Europa Conference League would guarantee at least a 48 game season, although it is likely to be more than that if they get through next month’s qualifying two-legger.
Bowen has played as a makeshift striker on occasion, something he did also do briefly at former club Hull City, but given the need to have him on the right side, a third choice should perhaps also be considered.
READ NEXT:
Gianluca Scamacca’s first words after sealing West Ham transfer from Sassuolo
How David Moyes could set up if West Ham complete Gianluca Scamacca and Filip Kostic transfers
How Pedro Obiang and Roberto Mancini inspired Gianluca Scamacca’s West Ham arrival
Europa Conference League play-off draw: West Ham’s potential opponents, date and format
David Moyes completes West Ham transfer mission with Gianluca Scamacca signing
