West Ham expecting busy summer of transfers and ‘will not have to sell players’ | OneFootball

New West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui says he is happy with his West Ham squad but a busy summer of transfers is expected at the club according to technical director Tim Steidten.

Lopetegui was announced as the new West Ham head coach in May and previously led Sevilla to Europa League glory in 2020, as well as having spells at Porto, the Spain national team, Real Madrid and Wolves.

The 57-year-old takes over from David Moyes, who guided West Ham to Europa Conference League glory in 2023 and recorded a ninth placed Premier League finish last season despite a disappointing end to the campaign.

And Lopetegui, while happy with his current group of players, says he is hoping for several additions this summer.

“We are happy with the players we have, of course,” he said. “We have a good platform that we are going to try to improve. Each season is different and the demand is very high. We have to work very hard to be ready in the right moment to be able to start with a high level. We are going to need players as soon as possible.”

And Steidten insists West Ham are not in a position to worry about the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, adding: “I cannot tell you more about the positions or player names, but it will be a busy summer for us, for sure.

“The board and the owner have done a good job the last couple of years, so we are able to spend money and will not have to sell.”

Steidten also addressed whether West Ham need a striker: “If it’s young or old, at the end it’s a different question, but at the end we are trying to build up the squad. I would not say that we are just looking for a striker or centre back or whatever. We are trying to build up the squad and looking for improvement in different positions, not just striker.”

Lopetegui and his staff are already facing two major headaches, however. Edson Alvarez, who was a key player under David Moyes, has been ruled out of Mexico’s Copa America campaign with a hamstring injury, and no prognosis has been offered as to when the player could return to action.

Another potential crisis has come in the form of Lucas Paqueta’s potential ban. The player was charged by the FA in May with a string of betting rule breaches, which could see him banned should he be found guilty.

“We are crossing our fingers every match that [West Ham internationals] play, because we have suffered one big injury with Edson, of course that is not good news for us because he is an important player,” Lopetegui said.

“We are looking for them to come back in the best condition because they are very important players.”

On Paqueta, he said: “We know that he and his family have suffered a lot, but I like when I see him smiling in the last match and enjoying football, he played very well [against Paraguay].

“We are his family, he has his family in Brazil and here in England. We are going to take care of him and of course we are waiting and looking forward to see him on the pitch playing with us. He is a very important part in our team.”

Lopetegui’s only Premier League job to date came at Wolves, spending just over half a season in the midlands before leaving due to disagreements with the club.

But the Spaniard has backed himself to succeed with West Ham. “I am in a position to win, we want to make another step in this club. Always the fans want one thing, that is to win,” he said.

“In football it is about both. We are going to try to take advantage of all of our strengths that we have, and to be able to play football with the ball and without the ball.

“I love attacking football, but I also like to make a fantastic counter attack. We do not have to refuse any way to win, we have to take advantage and to win is one of the biggest things in football. To win you have a lot of ways. Sometimes all of them work. We have to choose our way.”

Lopetegui’s first match in the West Ham dugout will be a friendly match away to local National League side Dagenham and Redbridge on June 20.