Dependant on sales, I think the signings we need to go straight in the first team are at CB (on top of Bednarek) and a DM next to Romeu. Potentially a winger/AM too, although if Boufal develops and Redmond and JWP continue to push on we might be alright, just need more goals from midfield. If Austin stays fit I think we'd be okay up front, but maybe another striker because there is no guarantee with Gallagher and obviously Jay Rod has gone. I'd also seriously consider upgrading on Long.
Why does everyone want another centre back?! Unless van Dijk goes then Stephens & Yoshida are 2/3 choice with Bedanek a player gaining experience. We also have Alfie Jones too.
I guess it all depends on what your ambition/hope for the season is. With the current squad we could probably finish in a similar position to last year, whilst giving some younger players a few games to see what we have. But if our aim is to have a crack at breaking top 6 we will need a couple of upgrades in the squad
Because I don't think either are good enough (Stephens not yet, anyway) if we have ambitions for Europe. If we want bottom half then we're fine. Plus we haven't replaced Fonte and see Bednarek as a replacement for Gardos who I don't think will stay.
We've got more chance making a £30M CB than buying one, so I suggest people start getting behind Jack. Now he's got that contract, Les will be banging on the gaffers door on match days!
http://www.goal.com/fr/news/29/ligu...baye-niang-le-dossier-yann-karamoh-a-de-quoi- Yano Karamoh. If we are the foreign club mentioned then it seems we are willing to meet the demanded price but Karamoh's agent doesn't want him to join us. However he wants him to join St Etienne but they are not willing to match the demanded fee.
If our ambition is top 6 we will need to do that by developing players over the long term because in terms of buying players every one of them can out spend us and are more attractive than us. We got top 6 first time by developing players into 30m players and it's how we will do it next time. And even after one bad season it's clear from this window we are in a far stronger position than we ever have been. This is what we are good at and we need to stick to it if we have any ambition.
Nicolai Muller: http://sportwitness.co.uk/west-ham-southampton-keen-sign-nicolai-muller-asked-e8-10m-complete/
"This could be a play to put pressure on Hamburg to offer a good renewal, or genuine West Ham and Southampton interest." Or in other words: we don't trust our own source. I think its safe to file that one under dubious.
