Big Sam speaking ahead of the Stevenage game on West Ham TV was asked about what further signings we could expect this summer:
“It depends on the budget, there is still room for a central defender particularly a left footed done because we do run with three not four ideally another left back to go along with Aaron and a front line player and the possibility of a midfield player as well”
We all know the front line player Sam is talking about is Enner Valencia who should be signing on Wednesday if everything goes to plan. If he joins he will join Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole, Mauro Zarate, Ricardo Vaz Te but we should also remember we have Jaanai Gordon, Paul McCallum, Elliot Lee and Sean Macguire all with a first team squad number coming through and waiting in the wings.
The central defender comment is a strange one, in addition to Winston Reid, James Collins and James Tomkins we know that Kouyate can play centre back as cover as it was his primary position up to very recently. If we needed a fifth centre back why not blood the 6ft 3 youngster Reece Oxford on the bench who is the interest of Chelsea and Arsenal. He has already trained with the first team at the age of 15.
Sam also mentioned the Left Back position. It is assumed Aaron Cresswell will be the primary choice for the left back position but we know Joey O’Brien who play left back as well as right back and Stuart Downing can also left back as cover as he did for Liverpool on more than one occasion. We also shouldn’t forget Dan Potts who signed a one year contract extension this summer. He has made five first team appearances so far for the Hammers. Another one coming through the ranks is supposed to be teenager Oscar Borg who has attracted from elsewhere. Cresswell himself only missed four games all of last season at Ipswich so if he makes the step up to Premier League he won’t want to give up his spot up any time soon.
As for another midfielder we have them coming out of ears in addition to Matt Jarvis, Kevin Nolan, Ravel Morrison, Mark Noble and Stewart Downing we have added Cheikhou Kouyate and Diego Poyet. We also have the following youngsters with first squad numbers Blair Turgott, George Moncurr, Danny Whitehead, Sebastian Lletget and Matthias Fanimo. Why would we need another cheap midfielder?