West Ham United are already pining for the January transfer window after a woeful start to the season with Chelsea and Manchester City stars linked.
West Ham players look dejected after a 3-0 defeat to Southampton
A terrible start to the season, infighting amongst fans, resentment towards owners and concerns over safety at the club’s new 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium home have soured the Hammers’ campaign so far.
Slaven Bilic‘s side have lost five of their opening six Premier League matches – their worst ever start to a season – conceding 11 goals in three back-to-back defeats against Watford, West Bromwich Albion and Southampton.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic looks dejected
The Hammers were also embarrassingly dumped out of the Europa League by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu for the second season running.
Pundits, fans, West Ham’s players and Bilic himself have struggled to put their finger on how things have contrasted so sharply to the Hammers‘ fantastic farewell season at Upton Park.
West Ham United’s Simone Zaza could be on his way back to Italy
There is already talk of big changes in the January transfer window with “marquee” striker signing Simone Zaza likely to be sent back to Juventus before he reaches the 15 games which trigger West Ham’s obligation to buy clause for £25 million – as reported by the likes of Football Italia.
The Hammers have also been linked with Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas who has been sparingly used since Zaza’s old boss Antonio Conte took over at Stamford Bridge, as reported by the likes of the Independent.
But the player with the stature, ability and personality needed to help West Ham turn things around could be Manchester City outcast Yaya Toure.
Manchester City’s Yaya Toure is looking fit and svelte during training
The former Barcelona man is looking in good shape if training ground images from Manchester are anything to go by.
Toure’s future at the Etihad looks bleak under Pep Guardiola who has exiled the African from the club’s Champions League squad.
A move to London and regular football could help the club lure the midfielder to help reinvigorate a side which looks brittle this season, particularly in the centre of the park.
Mark Noble is starting to look like his race has run and Toure could form a formidable partnership with fellow African Cheikhou Kouyate.
He is on huge money at City so the Hammers may have to come to some sort of agreement with the Blues over paying a percentage of his wages.
Meanwhile Guardiola would presumably have no issues with loaning him to a side likely to be battling at best for midtable mediocrity this season.
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