New West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini is now targeting seven signings this summer as he sets about rebuilding his squad, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper report that the Chilean is planning to ‘significantly overhaul’ the first-team in the coming weeks, with a major clear-out of backroom staff and players also underway.
The Telegraph claim that at least three more players will leave the club following the departures of James Collins, Patrice Evra and Joe Hart, with several background staff also on their way out.
This claim of seven new faces represents a major development on Pellegrini’s initial assessment that he would look to bring in “four or five” players to the London Stadium this summer.
OPINION
It is not known what has led Pellegrini to increase the number of new signings he is looking to bring in this summer, but either way the Hammers look to be in for a major overhaul. That was always going to be the case with a new manager coming in, and it is promising that Pellegrini looks like he has a clear idea of what is needed at the London Stadium. He will no doubt be focusing efforts on bringing in defensive reinforcements after such a poor season at the back, while midfield is another area of concern. The Chilean has extensive contacts in the English and Spanish games, and that should mean that Hammers fans are in for an exciting summer ahead of the 2018/19 season. Aside from incomings, it will also be interesting to see which players end up leaving the club, with there being several first-team squad members who look like they could go.
