Former West Ham United favourite Jimmy Walker has been discussing his old club’s hopes for the season.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
West Ham United have been busy over the summer with Slaven Bilic reshaping his squad for a season he hoped would include European football.
The Hammers were linked with all and sundry over the last few months as the club geared up for its inaugural season at the 60,000-seater Olympic Stadium – now referred to as the London Stadium.
The former Croatia manager had been building to ensure he had enough depth to compete at home and abroad, but his side were embarrassingly dumped out by Romanian side Astra Giurgiu in the fourth qualifying round of the Europa League.
The East Londoners were actually one of the busiest clubs of the window. Bilic kicked things off by releasing the likes Alex Song, Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses from loan deals.
He also sanctioned the £10 million sale of defender James Tomkins to London rivals Crystal Palace and managed to get Enner Valencia off the books on deadline day to Everton on an initial season-long loan.
Simeone Zaza is the star arrival for West Ham
The Hammers have brought in 13 players. They signed Manuel Lanzini, Havard Nordtveit, Toni Martinez, Domingos Quina, Sofiane Feghouli, Ashley Fletcher, Gokhan Tore (loan), Arthur Masuaku, Jonathan Calleri (loan), Edimilson Ferdnandes, Alvaro Arbeloa and broke their transfer record with the £20.5 signing of Andre Ayew from Swansea City.
That record will be broken again if loan signing Simeone Zaza plays the 15 games which will trigger West Ham’s obligation to buy him for £25m from Juventus.
But it is keeping Payet which Walker, who famously saved a penalty for the Hammers from Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge, said on Twitter was the club’s best bit of business.
Former Hammers favourite Jimmy Walker
“Great window for West Ham United keeping Payet and adding quality #masterstroke got a real chance if keep/get everyone fit. Come on you Irons,” Walker said as the window slammed shut.
West Ham’s Dimitri Payet
Payet had been linked with a big money move to the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain over the summer.
But the France star has remained in East London and looks set for his first start of the season when he returns from injury to face Watford at the weekend.
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