West Ham arrive at the new Premier League season still high off the European glory that ended their last campaign.
But, a very slow start to their summer transfer dealings and the loss of their club captain have left a sense of worry over London Stadium ahead of the big kick-off.
Here, Standard Sport West Ham correspondent Malik Ouzia previews the Hammers’ 2023-24 campaign...
What has changed in 11 weeks?
Declan Rice has left, but we are yet to see the squad revamp that David Moyes and fans were expecting. The Hammers have found it tough going in the transfer market and that frustration is in danger of sucking away all sense of uplift from that night in Prague. Tim Steidten has arrived as technical director.
Transfer business
Until the Hammers signed Edson Alvarez from Ajax for £32m, West Ham were the only top-flight club not to make a signing. Things are starting to happen — they are closing in on Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse — but the lack of productivity in the transfer market has built a troubled feeling.
Tactic to look for
Moyes likes the idea of using Jarrod Bowen as a centre-forward, having experimented in pre-season. The winger has been West Ham’s most consistent finisher over the past two campaigns and Moyes is not desperate to sign a striker, despite losing Italy international Gianluca Scamacca, who has returned to Serie A after one difficult season at the London Stadium.
Success would be… A firm push back into the top half and another good run in Europe after last season’s stunning finale. After all, the landscape has changed since West Ham were competing for a top-six finish only a couple of seasons ago.
