West Ham Transfer News: How will Hammers line up with Fullkrug and Rodriguez?

 

Julen Lopetegui is ushering in a new era at West Ham. The Spaniard took over from David Moyes in May and while the pre-season results haven't been anything to write home about - the Hammers have won just one of their last four - supporters are hoping the east London side will get their act together in time for the start of the 2024/25 Premier League season. 

 

What is evident, though, is that Lopetegui has been backed heavily in the market. The new manager needed the full support of the board, and he has got just that in the last few weeks. Indeed, Max Kilman has joined from Wolves, Lopetegui well versed in the centre-back's abilities following their time together at Molineux, while wingers Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme have arrived from Leeds and Palmeiras, respectively. 

 

Those three won't be the only new additions before the transfer window closes later this month. Lopetegui is looking to assemble a squad capable of bettering last season's ninth-placed finish and in the process; allow the club to fully move on from Moyes. 

 

 

There are three key areas that West Ham are looking to bolster in the coming days and weeks, firstly at right-back. Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui was high on the club's wishlist, but despite agreeing a fee with the German side for the Moroccan; the deal collapsed as West Ham failed to come to an agreement with the player's agent. As such, the Hammers have since turned their attention to Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka. 

 

United themselves have been linked with Mazraoui, and West Ham's failure to get the deal over the line means the former are the frontrunners to sign the Morocco international, a player familiar to head coach Erik ten Hag. Mazraoui's potential switch to Old Trafford would allow Wan-Bissaka to depart United for the London Stadium, with Lopetegui potentially viewing the former Crystal Palace man as an upgrade on current incumbent Vladimir Coufal at right-back. 

 

Further forward, and while Lopetegui does have Edson Alvarez to call upon in the middle of the park, West Ham are closing in on the signing of Guido Rodriguez. The Argentine has previously been linked with a move to Arsenal and is free to leave Real Betis this summer, with the Hammers aiming to bolster in the middle of the park with the addition of the 30-year-old. 

 

Rodriguez ranked 30th for tackles per 90 (2.6) in La Liga last season and has made 239 tackles and interceptions combined since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, that ranking third. Factor in his solid pass success rate of 85.9% and West Ham are landing a handy ball winner to bolster the ranks. Whether Rodriguez is coming in to replace Alvarez remains to be seen, though the Mexican sustained a hamstring injury at the end of June during the Copa America and is yet to return. 

 

 

Finally the Hammers are looking to end their over-reliance on Michail Antonio with the capture of another striker in the very foreseeable future. Niclas Fullkrug is free to leave Borussia Dortmund following their signing of Serhou Guirassy from VfB Stuttgart. Fullkrug, who really made a name for himself at the 2022 World Cup, scored 12 times and provided eight assists in the Bundesliga last season. 

 

Many had hoped the 31-year-old would lead the charge for Germany at Euro 2024 and despite featuring as backup for Kai Havertz, Fullkrug impressed when given the chance. The former Werder Bremen star scored twice at the Euros and overperformed his xG by 0.62, that 34th biggest overperformance at the tournament. The signing of the German will give the Hammers a real focal point in attack and allow for Jarrod Bowen to continue in his favoured right wing spot. 

 

With as many as five potential new players capable of waltzing into the West Ham side, their starting XI ahead of their season opener against Aston Villa could look a lot different to the one that fell to a loss at Manchester City back in May.

West Ham Transfer News: How will Hammers line up with Fullkrug and Rodriguez?