10 August 2023 , 16:37
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What a difference a week has made at West Ham United.
Merely a few days ago, fan frustration was growing over the club's seemingly glaring failure not to spend the £105million they were handed by Arsenal for star midfielder Declan Rice. With David Moyes seemingly at odds with the powers that be over transfer targets, odds on the Scottish manager leaving the club shortened dramatically.
However, the Europa Conference League holders have now burst into life in the summer transfer window, with Harry Maguire's £30m move from Manchester United in the process of being completed. Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez has signed for £35.4m, with a £30m deal also agreed with Southampton for James Ward-Prowse.
And the club aren't done there, with another United player in Scott McTominay also being pursued. Mirror Football has looked at how the Hammers may line up, with particular focus on their new look Rice-less midfield......
Goalkeeper and back four: Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Harry Maguire, Emerson Palmieri.
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How West Ham line up at the back won't differ much from the keeper and back four that started their now famous European final win over Fiorentina - with one notable exception.
For all the ridicule and criticism he's been subjected too in the past two seasons at Manchester United, Harry Maguire's England form shows a centre-back who, at his best, remains world class. And a fresh start at a new club should benefit him as much as it does Moyes.
It's a transfer likely to confine Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd to the bench - with the partnership of Zouma and Maguire potentially a physically imposing one.
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Midfield: Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, Scott McTominay, Lucas Paqueta.
This is where things get interesting, with the potential for three big new names in the engine room. The extra additions are unlikely to see Moyes abandon his customary cautious approach, with Alvarez the perfect candidate to replace Rice and sit in front of the back four with Soucek.
The trio potentially charged with pushing further forward could be an enticing one, with the dead-ball ability of Ward-Prowse the perfect foil for the work-rate of McTominay and the creativity of Paqueta - should the Brazilian not move to Man City of course. If he does, then Said Benrahma is adequate backup.
Striker:Jarrod Bowen.
Michail Antonio played much of the season in the lone striker role, but a total of five Premier League goals is an underwhelming return however you choose to spin it.
Bowen meanwhile, was deployed in a deeper role. But at 26, he's seven years the junior of Antonio and his finishing prowess came to the fore for THAT late goal in Prague.
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He lacks the physicality of Antonio, but the extra creativity behind him shouldn't see him short of chances. Time for Moyes to put faith in the man who's on fire, and he's sh.......