Slaven Bilic has stated he intends to sign a maximum of four “game-changing” players for West Ham United this summer and he already has his first.
Pablo Zabaleta has become West Ham’s first summer signing
Experienced full-back Pablo Zabaleta became the Hammers’ first signing of the summer after he was released by Manchester City following nine memorable years at the Etihad.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Given how much of a critical problem the right back position has been for the East Londoners for the best part of two years, the transfer of Zabaleta could be a “game changer” for West Ham, a phrase Bilic used to describe the “three or four” signings he believes he needs this summer in an interview with the club’s website.
And given where West Ham need to strengthen most with the desired level of quality – and taking into account the players the club has been consistently linked with – could these be the other three signings to add to Zabaleta for the new season.
Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho scores
Kelechi Iheanacho
West Ham hope Zabaleta will be something of a gatekeeper signing in their pursuit of his former City teammate Kelechi Iheanacho.
The young Nigerian striker is reportedly the East London club’s top striker target.
And The Sun claims the affable Zabaleta is close with Iheanacho after taking him under his wing when he arrived in Manchester from Africa.
West Ham will face competition from bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Everton for the 20-year-old’s signature.
But reports claim West Ham are willing to double Iheanacho’s wages in a bid to lure him to the London Stadium as well as signing up his close friend.
Bilic has worked with Mario Mandzukic before
Mario Mandzukic
West Ham United have been heavily linked with a move for Juventus star Mario Mandzukic and it’s easy to see why.
The Hammers will be in the market for a new striker or two this summer and former Besiktas Director of Football Onder Ozen was quoted by Turkish Football as saying that Mandzukic will be heading to team up with fellow Croatian Slaven Bilic in East London next season.
Given Juve’s plethora of expensive attacking talent, the hardworking Croat has been deployed wide left of a front three this season, which gives Bilic planty of attacking versatility in selection too as he can also play as a lone target man if needed.
Mandzukic’s hard graft, professional attitude and selflessness has helped Juve to yet another Serie A title and into the final of the Champions League.
Should they get him and Iheanacho the Hammers will be a completely different proposition next season.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Michy Batshuayi
Michy Batshuayi
Belgian youngster Michy Batshuayi has barely been used by Blues boss Antonio Conte and has been linked with both loan and permanent moves to the London Stadium.
Batshuayi actually snubbed the Hammers in the summer which left Bilic without a top class striker after the Hammers had a £30m bid accepted by Marseille.
Despite his late flurry of goals in the last couple of games of the season – which included the strike which sealed Chelsea the title – Batshuayi looks set to fall even further down the pecking order with Blues boss Antonio Conte reportedly targeting the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata.
Batshuayi, Iheanacho and Mandzukic would all fall into the “game-changer” category for West Ham and that could make the Hammers serious contenders for European football next season.
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