Julen Lopetegui has begun work as the new West Ham United manager.
Some managers prefer to keep large proportions of the squad they are inheriting together and fix the issues rather than clear everything away.
But it seems like there is a clearout at West Ham United this summer and more changes could yet be made.
The fans would state that it is needed because the David Moyes era ended in a bitter fashion, with results faltering and the style of play out of the window.
That’s why there is going to be a lot of pressure on the club ahead of the new Premier League campaign, as Lopetegui has already held his West Ham press conference.
No Upcoming Fixtures
There have been a total of three incomings so far, including Max Kilman signing for West Ham from Wolves.
And there have also been a series of exits, some were expected, such as long-serving player Angelo Ogbonna heading for the exit door after his contract expired.
But another player the Hammers let go was their former academy star Ben Johnson after he joined newly-promoted Ipswich Town on a free transfer.
Darren Bent highlighted his arrival at Ipswich and how manager Kieran McKenna ‘isn’t signing big names’, but players who are ‘good characters’, as he told talkSPORT.
But the former Ipswich striker did point towards Johnson’s lack of game time at the London Stadium, how they could be making a mistake letting him go because everyone thought he was going to become a ‘very, very good player’.
Johnson is still 24, and was part of West Ham’s Europa Conference League-winning team, so he has plenty of time to reach those levels yet.
Ben Johnson leaves West Ham United and joins Ipswich Town
“He (Kieran McKenna) isn’t signing the big names like Ben Johnson from West Ham, another one,” said Bent.
“We all thought he was going to be a very, very good Premier League player. Maybe he hasn’t had the opportunities at West Ham that he would have liked. But seems like a good character.”
Where will West Ham United finish ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season?
In the Premier League, they have finished outside of the European places for the last two seasons, so they need to improve on that front.
Fans will want a return to Europe, especially with the team not playing midweek games for the first time in a long time.
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But the issue West Ham face is the competition all around them. Newcastle United are in the same boat.
Erik ten Hag signed a new deal at Manchester United – there is pressure on him to make big improvements and Chelsea also have a new manager in Enzo Maresca.
All these clubs are expected to finish in Europe, not forgetting the top four – Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa.
It’s pretty much jam-packed near the top and Lopetegui has his work cut out, that’s for sure.
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