Ipswich Town and Sears take on West Ham on Saturday.
Former West Ham United attacker and lifelong Hammers fan Freddie Sears has told the club’s official website that he has been impressed by the club’s transfer window and new manager Manuel Pellegrini – but thinks the top six is too far.
Sears is currently plying his trade for Ipswich Town, who take on the Hammers on Saturday in a pre-season friendly at Portman Road – which will see the attacker facing his former side six years after leaving.
The 28-year-old joined Colchester United in the summer of 2012 before moving to Ipswich in January 2015, where he has since clocked up a huge 150 appearances in all competitions, scoring 24 goals.
Sears believes the signings of Jack Wilshere and Felipe Anderson are bold moves, and has been impressed with the appointment of Premier League winner Pellegrini. But he reckons the best West Ham can hope for a is a top-eight finish.
“It looks exciting,” Sears said. “The players they’re bringing, people like Jack Wilshere and Felipe Anderson, joining the likes of Arnautovic and Nobes mean there is a lot of quality in the squad.
“The new manager has won the Premier League title and done well everywhere he has gone, so everyone will be behind him. It can only bode well for West Ham. For West Ham, the Premier League’s top six is harder to break into.
Top ten would be positive and top eight would be great. I’d love to see European football at London Stadium again, but the Premier League is tough. It’s hard to keep up with teams spending lots of money, but West Ham are giving it a good go.”
Sears made his debut for the Hammers way back in March 2008, in a Premier League win over Blackburn Rovers. He ended up playing 58 times for his boyhood club – scoring just three goals.
The Hammers will continue their preparations against Ipswich ahead of a brutal Premier League opener which sees the east Londoners travel to Anfield to face Liverpool.
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