West Ham United have been linked with a plethora of players this summer but could be at risk of compiling an ageing squad.
West Ham co owner David Gold
The Hammers are known for their Academy of Football roots and have a proud history of bringing through young players for club and country.
Recent comments from co-owner David Gold suggest the East Londoners are no longer a club which gives chances to teenagers, though, which has been backed up by the decision to send talented Reece Oxford on loan for the season to Germany.
Meanwhile Slaven Bilic has signed one player so far in the shape of veteran defender Pablo Zabaleta, who turns 33 during next season.
And media speculation has seen the club linked with a host of more senior players such as John Terry – who turns 37 next season, Joe Hart, who will be 31, Phil Jagielka – who will be 35 when the new season gets underway and Bafetimbi Gomis – 32 this August.
The Hammers had also been linked with Bournemouth bound former academy graduate Jermain Defoe, who turns 35 two months into the new season in what appears to be a very deliberate shift in transfer policy.
Jose Fonte turns 34 next season
Those targets would join a side containing a number of players over the age of 30 with James Collins and Jose Fonte (both 34 next season), goalkeepers Adrian and Darren Randolph and Mark Noble (all 31 next season) and Robert Snodgrass (30 next season).
It was just two season ago owners David Sullivan and David Gold ripped up their recruitment process, bringing in talent spotter Tony Henry as they targeted younger, hungry players with future sell-on value.
The owners said players under the age of 27 were their preference and at first it worked with a number of success stories like Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio, Pedro Obiang and Chiekhou Kouyate to name but a few.
Ageing squad? West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
Last season’s recruitment bordered on disastrous, though, as the Hammers took a big step back with their transfer dealings cited as the key reason for their demise.
Perhaps Bilic feels the team needs more leaders and experience, but are the club in danger of going too far the other way at the expense of what looks a talented crop of young players emerging including the likes of Oxford, Toni Martinez, Reece Burke, Josh Cullen, Martin Samuelsen, Domingos Quina, Marcus Browne and Declan Rice.
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