Podcasts

West Ham United: Darren Lewis expecting ‘big finish’ to transfer window for the Hammers

|
Image for West Ham United: Darren Lewis expecting ‘big finish’ to transfer window for the Hammers

Journalist Darren Lewis believes Sunday’s Premier League opener will serve as a ‘wake-up’ call for West Ham United.

The Hammers were ‘outclassed’, as Lewis put it, by back-to-back champions Manchester City and were beaten 2-0 thanks to a goal in each half from Erling Haaland.

The home side kept just 25% of possession and attempted almost 600 fewer passes than City (SofaScore) as the squad’s strength in depth was put in the spotlight, judging by the players David Moyes had to turn to on his bench.

Alphonse Areola and Said Benrahma are established figures in the side, while Gianluca Scamacca will likely play a telling part this term, but both Flynn Downes and Conor Coventry were introduced in the final minute for their Premier League debuts.

Nikola Vlasic, who struggled for minutes last season, third-choice goalkeeper Darren Randolph and youngsters Harrison Ashby and Armstrong Oko-Flex were the unused substitutes as the side’s lack of alternatives was laid bare, and Lewis is expecting a ‘very big’ couple of weeks on the transfer front for the London Stadium outfit.

Speaking on the TalkSport GameDay podcast, he said: “If anything, even though they were outclassed, it was a stark wake-up call for the club, really, because once the window closes, they can’t afford not to have more reinforcements. They need more up front, they need another left-back, they need another centre-half, they need more in midfield as well.

“I know that they’re planning for a very big finish to the window, and I would expect them to have far more depth by the time we reach September 1st.”

TIF Thoughts on West Ham…

Will West Ham improve on last season?

Yes

Yes

No

No

The Times has claimed that the Irons are seeking competition at left-back for Aaron Cresswell, but a move for Filip Kostic to fill the position appears to be off.

Maxwel Cornet was introduced to the home faithful on Sunday and will be a versatile option for Moyes.

Attacking midfielder Piotr Zielinski is another name that the club have apparently struck an agreement with for £33m from Napoli, while the imminent departure of Issa Diop to Fulham will pave the way for another centre-back to arrive according to The West Ham Way, which is necessary following the injury to summer signing Nayef Aguerd.

Share this article