West Ham United are playing catch-up this summer after a big step backwards this season and must beat Everton to future superstar.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
The Hammers have endured a torrid second season under Slaven Bilic after their record breaking farewell campaign at Upton Park.
Knocked out of the Europa League, EFL Cup and FA Cup in embarrassing fashion, the East Londoners then lost star player Dimitri Payet after he forced through a return to Marseille.
Bilic turned things around after Christmas as the club pulled away from the relegation zone but results have dipped again of late with no win in five and three defeats on the bounce.
For most West Ham fans, what has been a disappointing season can’t end quick enough.
The owners David Sullivan and David Gold failed miserably on the recruitment front this season and cannot afford to make the same mistakes again after promising supporters so much ahead of the move to the Olympic Stadium but delivering little.
There is a huge creative void at the club since Payet’s departure and Manuel Lanzini is already being relied upon too heavily.
It is crucial the club brings in players of the right age who they can build a team around, players who have the kind of quality that will excite the fans again.
And Bilic should look no further than Belgian wonderkid Youri Tielemans of Anderlecht.
Youri Tielemans
The supremely talented 19-year-old already has 17 goals in 36 games this season from attacking midfield and has already played 128 professional games despite his tender years.
Tielemans has been linked with a move to Everton – as reported by the likes of the Daily Star – but with players such as Ross Barkley, Yannick Bolasie and Kevin Mirallas already at Goodison Park it is difficult to see where he might fit in.
At West Ham he could be the main man around which the team is built.
Tielemans celebrates
The mercurial talent would likely cost the Hammers a record fee but West Ham have the money.
Bilic should be given no less than £100 million to spend in the summer going by the club’s accounts and a big chunk of it would be wisely spent on a player who could comfortably take the place of Payet and then some.
The club will need to act fast to beat off competition from the Toffees and clubs across Europe, though, of that there is no doubt.
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