Former Premier League star turned pundit Mark Schwarzer has delivered an emphatic verdict on West Ham United’s summer transfer business.
The Hammers have signed five players so far this summer with Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez and young prospect Sead Haksabanovic arriving in East London.
And the club is believed to be close to sealing the record signing of Portugal midfielder William Carvalho.
Slaven Bilic‘s recruitment seems to have been markedly improved after some disastrous business last season.
As well as the signings West Ham have thus far managed to hold on to their key players and ship out many of the flops signed last summer.
A 4-0 thrashing in the opening game of the season against Manchester United and a harsh last gasp 3-2 defeat to Southampton with 10 men has seen the new signings make very different starts to their Hammers careers.
Most pundits have been choosing the two Manchester clubs and Everton as the sides they feel have done the best business this summer.
But former Premier League star Mark Schwarzer plumped for West Ham when appearing as a guest on Sky Sports’ The Debate and predicts Bilic’s side will enjoy a good season.
“I’m going to say West Ham (have done the best business), even though their first result was a bad one,” Schwarzer told The Debate.
“I think in the transfer market West Ham did some great business.
“I mean Joe Hart for me is the standout addition for them I think he’s a very good goalkeeper someone that it’s great (to have) back in the Premier League.
“Zabaleta, Arnautovic – the only problem with Arnautovic is that you just don’t know what you’re going to get every week – however he has got something special if he’s on fire and they’ve obviously got Hernandez, he’s a regular goalscorer and (especially) against some of the lesser teams.
“I think West Ham will be good this season I just think they were on a hiding to nothing in that first game of the season.”
Nobody can say West Ham’s new signings have not made any impact so far.
Chicharito was lively at Old Trafford despite a lack of service and then scored a brace to drag the 10 man Hammers back from 2-0 down to 2-2 at St Marys before a late penalty.
Bilic’s side were down to 10 after Arnautovic was recklessly sent off for an elbow while the last gasp penalty was conceded by Zabaleta.
The least desirable record goes to Hart, though, who has conceded seven goals in two games since arriving back in England – although two were penalties and there was no a lot he could do about most of the other five.
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