OPINION
Manuel Pellegrini is bound to ring changes at West Ham this summer after a poor season that saw the club face a real threat of relegation from the Premier League.
David Sullivan and David Gold must promise the ex-Manchester City manager a good amount of funds to spend, otherwise it could be yet another year of disappointment for the Hammers faithful.
If the co-owners hand Pellegrini a sizeable warchest, the Chilean must definitely set his sights on signing Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley after it was reported that the England international is unsettled at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea signed Barkley from Everton in January for £15million with the Daily Mail reporting that he agreed a deal worth around £150,000-a-week with the London club.
However since swapping Merseyside for the capital, the 24-year-old outcast has made just four appearances in all competitions, even though he is back to fitness after a serious hamstring injury.
That has led to the Sun to report that the ex-Everton star is growing frustrated at Stamford Bridge and wants first team action to help him fight his way back into the England squad.
If Chelsea are not able to do that, then West Ham should look to raid their Premier League rivals for the big-money midfielder, whose desperation for first team football must surely see him want to drop his expectations and move to a team outside the top-six.
A summer move is not unlikely given his frustration and a loan deal would be a clever way for all parties concerned to get the best out of the midfielder.
West Ham’s midfield has been pretty weak in the last few years, but Barkley will add the flair, playmaking ability and power that is needed to turn the Hammers from bottom-half fodder to serious contenders to qualify for the Europa League.