West Ham United, a football club with a rich history and a loyal fan base, has been underwhelming in recent seasons. To truly compete with the top Premier League teams, the club needs to take bold steps. Historically, West Ham has favored budget-friendly approaches in terms of player recruitment and management, rather than investing heavily to strengthen the team.
Despite its status as one of London’s traditional football clubs, West Ham has not been able to match the success of local rivals like Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Chelsea. This can be attributed to the club’s reluctance to spend as much on transfers as these other teams. If West Ham wants to be a force to be reckoned with, it must be willing to spend more on quality players and bring in a more innovative coach.
One potential sign of a positive change is the reported interest in Sporting Lisbon’s talented left-winger, Pedro Goncalves. According to TeamTalk, West Ham is keeping a close eye on Goncalves, who has a release clause of £69 million. Other clubs like Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in him, with Aston Villa being particularly attractive due to their possible qualification for the UEFA Champions League. However, if West Ham can bring in Ruben Amorim as their new manager, it could increase the chances of Goncalves choosing them over other teams.
The addition of Amorim, who has had success at Sporting Lisbon, could signal a fresh approach for West Ham. With the summer transfer window opening on July 1, the club has the opportunity to make a significant move by acquiring Goncalves. This would not only set a positive tone for the 2024/25 season but also send a message to the rest of the Premier League that West Ham is serious about competing at a higher level.
In addition to Goncalves, West Ham is exploring other managerial options, despite owner David Sullivan’s preference for Julen Lopetegui. The club has a chance to make strategic changes that could help it break free from its reputation as a “sleeping giant” and become a more competitive team in the Premier League.
Overall, West Ham’s success in the upcoming season will largely depend on its willingness to take risks and invest in high-quality players and management. By doing so, the club can start to close the gap with the Premier League’s best teams and give its fans something to cheer about.