Only a few months left in the season and then the transfer rumour mill restarts, linking every in-form Hammer a ‘big’ English club… Huh? What’s that? Oh, sorry! I’ve just had a flashback to five years ago!

Let’s fast forward to June 2016… the new TV revenue comes into effect next season, which means every Premier League team will earn £128m upfront for the season. That’s the equivalent of 10 Payets and an Adrian! (That’s some team that!)

Gone are the days of West Ham United having to sell one key player in order to invest in three average players. The past couple of seasons have been our best transfer windows in living memory but now we will have financial backing to spend £20m on one player.

Every player has a price, but it’s giving those players a chance to succeed. We’ve given many chances to expensive flops in the past years. £11m for promising German talent Savio Nserenko and £7m for experienced England winger Kieron Dyer has proved that previous regime of scouts had no clue what a ‘West Ham player’ should be.

Gold and Sullivan have been very good in the market and have supported each manager they’ve put in charge. I expect our owners to come out and say ‘there is a budget for transfers, but we’re budgeting,’ which is a shrewd tactic to make sure that we don’t pay over the odds for players in less wealthy league setups.

I have narrowed down a list of five players West Ham should look to invest in to develop our current squad this summer…

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic

This is a no brainer for me, a world class talent who has proven in the past couple of season that age is just a number.

He has developed his game to his strengths and doesn’t have to use his energy where it’s not needed. Years ago, during his Barcelona and Inter Milan days, Zlatan could run all over the pitch and be a threat on the wings, now he is a central striker given a free role to use his strength, flair and athletic ability in areas which aide his supporting striker.

At 34, with no transfer fee to be paid, it’s a fantastic signing to have at the club for the next two seasons at least. He may have an ego, but you would too if you were classed as one of the world’s best strikers and given a megabucks deal by a top sporting brand.

He is a natural talent with plenty of mileage left, working hard in training to make matches easier – a modern day Teddy Sheringham who reads the game two yards before anyone else – and a clever footballer, not to be underestimated because of his age.

Alexandre Lacazette

This French striking assassin has been doing the job for Lyon every since he burst onto the scene a couple of seasons ago.

He is a natural born finisher in front of goal who can also track back and get involved with the midfielders to generate an attack.

Lacazette always hits double digits and will guarantee goals at the highest of levels. If I had to choose either Lacazette or Batshuayi… I’d choose Lacazette. He is years ahead of Michy (who is still a fantastic player) but at the age of 24, I feel he has more experience to elevate us where we want to be, while Michy has to prove himself more.

Lacazette would be an upgrade on Emenike, who has done OK at the club, but not really setting the world alight. I think it would be best if we gave the £8m transfer a miss and invested elsewhere.

Gokhan Tore

Slaven’s Turkish lovechild, who he worked with at Besiktas, is a super talent and is becoming a star in his native Turkey.

Another Chelsea youngster that has slipped through the net, he has been making waves on the pitch by his small but stocky frame, freakishly strong when taking on opponents he also has a sweet cross.

Tore is also capable of chipping in with goal here or there, but he would be an effective player to have on the wing. Playing with Payet and Lanzini in an attacking midfield three would be entertaining to see.

With Victor Moses failing with consistency, I feel Tore would come in and challenge Antonio for a place in the team.

Nathaniel Clyne

The England international earned his move to Liverpool after impressing for Southampton and he has had a good season, but not a great one as the Liverpool team have gone though the Rodgers to Klopp transition.

Clyne is a strong bully of a right back who loves to attack the wing and would certainly give some competition to Sam Byram – rotating to the two would definitely benefit the team. With Carl Jenkinson out injured and Joey O’Brien’s contract coming to an end, I feel the right back position does need some reinforcement after the situation we’ve discovered with Tomkins being injured and Byram being suspended.

We’ve got away with it in games and played okay but we can’t rely on make shift right backs using attacking players, it’s a compromise we shouldn’t need to resort to.

Jack Butland

As much as I like Randolph, I would be tempted to let him go to benefit his career. He has been a fantastic servant this season but he will never be a No1 over Adrian.

I love Adrian’s heart and passion but technically as a keeper he’s good enough for now, however I feel Jack Butland is the future No1 England keeper.

Butland is a young, naturally gifted keeper proving his ability with a Stoke team who are benefiting from his shot stopping. I feel West Ham could benefit from having a class English keeper who will grow with the team.

Having a good keeper like Cech, De Gea and Hart is worth at least 15 points a season to their clubs and is the difference between winning and losing – and Butland is certainly capable of reaching their level.

He is a very vocal player for his age, and proves his maturity between the sticks.

The FANTASTIC FIVE…

There you go, they are my five transfers for this summer. These are all players who I feel can improve the squad no end.

Just imagine how successful we would be if we made those signings? We won’t be talking about fighting for 5th place and an FA Cup quarter-final replay, we’ll be talking about the finals and league trophies we’ll be in contention for on a regular basis.

I have faith that whoever we sign this summer will justified by the owners and management team to make this club a force in every competition we play in.