Monday 18 July 2016 09:43, UK
We take a look at the ways in which West Ham need to strengthen in the summer transfer window.
What are the key areas for improvement? Who could fill the gaps?
We examine the situation with the help of manager quotes and expert pundit views...
Manuel Lanzini (Al Jazira Club, £9.4m), Toni Martinez (Valencia, £2.25m), Havard Nordtveit (Borussia Monchengladbach, free) Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia, free) Domingos Quina (Chelsea, free), Gokhan Tore (Besiktas, loan), Ashley Fletcher (Manchester United, free)
James Tomkins (Crystal Palace, £10m), Elliott Lee (Barnsley, free)
West Ham have already brought in a number of new players to strengthen Slaven Bilic's squad ahead of their Olympic Stadium move. The arrivals of Gokhan Tore and Sofiane Feghouli have added quality on the flanks and they have also secured the permanent signing of Manuel Lanzini, but they are still on the hunt for a striker.
Dimitri Payet and Andy Carroll were their top scorers last season with just nine goals each, and West Ham's owners have made it clear they are willing to spend big on a new man to lead the line.
They might also need to strengthen at the back following James Tomkins' £10m departure to Crystal Palace, but arguably the biggest priority would have been keeping hold of Payet. The Frenchman said after Euro 2016 that he is flattered by transfer interest in him but says he has no intention of leaving West Ham this summer.
After failing with bids for Michy Batshuayi, Callum Wilson and Alexandre Lacazette, West Ham have now turned their attentions to AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca. The Hammers have activated his £26m release clause, and Sky sources say they will enter talks with the Colombian's representatives this week.
"We are not panicking," said Bilic. "We have a good team. If we can add something to that team to make it better then okay. We've been monitoring the players throughout the season. It will help us to make our decision."
"I don't know how much you'd change about them. I thought they had a great season last year and they had some real stand-out performers. You look at Dimitri Payet and Mark Noble in midfield, Aaron Cresswell at the back.
"With James Tomkins going, does that mean they might want to bring another centre-back in or right-back? I think time will tell with West Ham, but they've already got a good squad and I think it will just be a case of a little bit of fine tuning, especially with possibly being in the Europa League and it'll be important for them to have a bigger squad."
