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So now we know we’re going to be in Europe and the club are actively seeking a new boss and a load of new players, it was always going to be a busy time at the club.

Today saw a load of news hit the headlines. From managerial developments, to players leaving the club, to old players having their say, it’s all been happening

So here are today’s big stories, just in case you missed them…

Unai Emery… is it possible?

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk v Sevilla - UEFA Europa League Final

Less than 24 hours after Unai Emery won the Europa League for Sevilla (again!) he was being heavily linked with a move to east London.

According to reports all over, he’s one of the managers at the top of our shortlist.

As statements of intent go, this is probably up there as the biggest. He’s a young manager and is obviously proven in leading a team to glory in Europa, as well as keeping them sound in the league (Sevilla finished fifth in La Liga this term.)

If we could tempt Emery to the club then we will have a lot to be excited about as we edge closer to life in the Olympic Stadium.

The rest?

While all the talk about Emery picked up the pace earlier, all the talk of the likes of Slaven Bilic and Marcelo Bielsa appeared to die down a bit.

But, as I write this, Marcelo Bielsa’s talks with Marseille didn’t go too well earlier. So he may still be in the frame.

The exodus begins…

The club announced their retain list today, and there a few notable names that aren’t there.

Carlton Cole, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Guy Demel and Nene are the four first team players who are definitely leaving the club this summer.

More on Cole in a bit, but Nene sent this farewell message to the club via his Instagram page…

🇬🇧 I won’t be at @whufc_official next season. I have spoken with the club and we agreed not to extend my current contract. This season didn’t offered me as much opportunities as I was prepared for. My goal is to play for at least 3 more seasons at high-level, that’s the reason why I need to go to another club. I thanks the fans for the permanent support. I wish the best success to my teammate and @whufc_official 🔨🔨 🇫🇷 Je ne serais pas à @whufc_official la saison prochaine. J’ai parlé avec le club et nous nous sommes mis d’accord pour ne pas renouveler mon contrat actuel. Cette saison ne m’a pas donnée les opportunités pour lesquelles je m’étais préparé. Mon objectif est de jouer à haut niveau pour encore au moins 3 saisons, c’est la raison pour laquelle je veux aller dans un autre club. Je remercie les fans pour leurs soutiens permanent. Je souhaite le meilleur à mes coéquipiers et à @whufc_official 🔨🔨🇧🇷 Não estarei mais no West Ham na próxima temporada. Conversei com o clube e decidimos em comum acordo pra não renovar o contrato , pois meu objetivo é de jogar mais no mínimo 3 temporadas em alto nivel, essa é a razão de eu querer ir pra outro clube. Agradeço muitos os torcedores que o tempo todo me apoiaram e mesmo querendo que eu ficasse me desculpem mais tenho que ver o que é melhor pra mim.

A photo posted by N10 (@neneoficial) on

We’d like to thank Nene, Demel and JJ for their efforts at the club and wish them all the very best in the future.

Farwell sweet Prince

Carlton Cole is definitely leaving this time and I’m absolutely gutted about it.

He was never the most gifted of players, but Carlton gave absolutely everything throughout his nine years at the club and I’m going to miss his presence at the club dearly.

Large sections of the fans will say they’re happy to finally see the back of him, but we all know deep down their gutted he’s off.

He loves West Ham just as much as we do. That comes across perfectly in his open letter to the fans on the club’s official site earlier.

You can read that here.

Good luck, Big Man. You’ll be sorely missed.

Good luck to Pottsy

Dan Potts is also off this summer, which is a great shame.

Steve Potts’ son only had a handful of first team appearances over the years, but always put in an impressive shift when called up.

Let’s hope he goes on to have a brilliant future, wherever he ends up next.

Cheers, Pottsy.

Remember Ilunga?

How could you forget him?

Herita Ilunga may have left the club a while ago now, but anyone who follows him on Twitter will know that he’s very much one of us now.

We don’t how we missed this, but a couple of days ago he tweeted his delight at the way the club is moving forward…

https://twitter.com/Herita23/status/603279784211283969

What a guy.

Further Reading

We’ve come under a lot of criticism this week, seemingly because we’re showed some ambition and refused to just settle for mid-table mediocrity.

And while journalists and bloggers persist in writing about how we should ‘be careful what we wish for,’ West Ham World writer Harry Burford wrote a brilliant piece for our friends FootballFanCast.com that pretty much sticks two fingers up at everyone else…

Well worth a read.

You may also like…

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SIX free agents to consider this summer

SIX signings to help us in Europe

FIVE Kevin Nolan alternatives to consider

FIVE signings West Ham fans have voted for

FIVE signings to transform West Ham this summer

FIVE Carl Jenkinson alternatives to consider

FIVE wonderkids West Ham should target

FIVE rumours West Ham should make happen

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1 COMMENT

  1. Carlton a Gentleman to the end, he has been a loyal servant to the club! wish him All The Best at his new club. Dan Potts departure really disappoints me, he never let us down when he got games, but of course with Dinosaur Sam, they were few and far between, just hope the New Manager whoever it ends up being has some Respect for the Youth System and is fair to young players something Sam could never claim to be! see no movement with Nolan, hope we are not going to retain him until the end of his 5 Year Contract in 2016!

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