Pre-season is underway and all attention is now on how we can begin our new era at the Olympic Stadium in style.

Slaven Bilic has already conducted some pretty impressive business this summer, bringing in Havard Nordtveit and Sofiane Feghouli on free transfers, as well as making Manuel Lanzini’s loan stay permanent.

And then if reports are to be believed, Gokhan Tore and Carlos Bacca will be joining the club within the next couple of weeks, which would certainly ensure we’ve got a stronger squad than last season.

With so many attacking players in the squad, Bilic is going to have a bit of selection head ache every week, because picking, say, three starters from Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Sofiane Feghouli, Gokhan Tore and Michail Antonio is a welcome but difficult dilemma to have.

But here’s our predicted XI for next season, which would arguably be our strongest and would ensure we kick off our new era in the best possible way.

Using a 4-2-3-1 formation, which Bilic used 12 times with a record of five wins, four draws and three losses last season, here’s our strongest possible XI…

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Adrian

Although Darren Randolph impressed whenever called upon last season, Adrian still remains the best ‘keeper we have on our books right now.

The Spaniard has improved with every passing seasons since he signed three years ago and you can count on him to be even better in 16/17.

Sam Byram/Michail Antonio

Sam Byram had a strange start to life at the club when he arrived in January.

Suspension, injury and being cup-tied meant he struggled to put a solid run of games together, which ultimately led to Michail Antonio making the right-back spot his own towards the end of the campaign.

Everyone knows Antonio is far better when played in a more attacking role, but rumours that Bilic does not plan to sign a right-back this summer means it looks as if he’ll be used there in 16/17 too.

However, Byram will only improve and reach the potential everyone raves about if he gets a good run of games under his belt – so let’s hope Bilic has that planned for him.

Winston Reid

Winston Reid has come on so far since he arrived at the club as an unknown. Now he’s one of our best defenders and is consistently reliable at the back.

He has suffered with injury over the past season or so, but if he can remain fit all season he’ll be one of our biggest assets at the Olympic Stadium.

Angelo Ogbonna

Angelo Ogbonna took some time to get going in a West Ham shirt last season, but once he settled in he was an absolute rock at the back.

His performances for Italy at Euro 2016 were equally impressive and his experience will be key if we manage to progress in to the group stages of the Europa League.

Aaron Cresswell

Mr. Reliable.

Aaron Cresswell has only missed one Premier League game in two seasons and has become one of the best left-backs in the Premier League since he signed from Ipswich two summers ago.

The only worry is that we don’t have a solid back-up, but his consistency and superb fitness record means we shouldn’t need to worry about that too much. Touch wood.

Mark Noble

Mark Noble had the best season of his career last term and is fast becoming one of the best captains the club has had in modern history – Bilic’s decision to give him the armband certainly brought the best out of him.

His love for the club, passion and true grit really puts him up there as a player most teams would love to have in their midfield.

Havard Nordtveit/Cheikhou Kouyate

The departure of Alex Song ultimately led to Bilic looking to the market for a solid alternative, and he came back Havard Nordtveit on a free – fantastic business.

The Norway international was so impressive for Borussia Monchengladbach last season and it has come as a surprise to many that he’s now a West Ham player and didn’t cost a penny.

Last season, Kouyate was absolutely sensational for us in midfield and it’ll be hard for Bilic to leave him out of the side. We missed him so much when he was out of the starting XI last term, but it’s likely Bilic will rotate these two throughout the campaign.

Sofiane Feghouli

Another superb bit of business, Sofiane Feghouli is another free transfer who will add so much to our attacking threat.

He’s quick, skilful and loves running at players so you have to expect him to be a straight replacement for Victor Moses, who just didn’t do enough to earn a permanent deal last term.

If we see half as much of Feghouli’s talent as he showed for Valencia over the last few years we’ll be in for a treat.

Dimitri Payet

Do I really need to explain?

We all know Dimitri Payet performs best when deployed as No.10 or in a free-roaming role, and with so many wide attacking players in the side now expect Bilic to play him there more.

His exploits for France this summer have put him on the world stage but we should be able to fight off any potential suitors and keep him at the club for at least one more season.

Gokhan Tore/Manuel Lanzini

It seems as though Bilic will finally be getting his man, with Gokhan Tore expected to put pen-to-paper early next week.

It has been said that the only manager to have ever got the best out of Tore is Bilic, so we should be in for a treat with the Turkey international in the ranks next term.

However, with Manuel Lanzini proving how crucial he is to the cause last term – and subsequently signing a permanent deal earlier in the year – could Bilic decide to rotate the two?

Lanzini performed best when he had Payet to feed off last season but if Tore can develop a similar relationship then it won’t matter who starts, both could prove to be so important.

Carlos Bacca/Andy Carroll

Carlos Bacca is supposedly the marquee striker we’ll be signing this summer, and there can be no complaints.

The Colombian is a goal machine, achieving 20+ goals a season everywhere he has played, including Belgium, Spain and Italy. He’ll be a crucial addition to the side.

And how can you not want Andy Carroll in the mix? The big man showed exactly what he can do last term, and if he can stay fit for ‘most’ of the season then he’ll no doubt chip in with a double figure goal return – something he is yet to do in claret and blue, though he came close with nine last term.

With Diafra Sakho reportedly throwing a strop and handing in a transfer request and Enner Valencia seemingly on his way out too, we’ll either have to invest in at least one more striker or, if he’s up to it, use new arrival Toni Martinez.