The West Ham United “Dream XI” for the 2017/18 season
The summer transfer window is well underway now and West Ham United are being persistently linked with players.
There seems to be a handful of new transfer rumours each day as the Hammers seek to improve the options in our squad and mount a better campaign for next year.
West Ham finished 11th in the Premier League last year but the league position flattered our performances.
Next season, hopefully we will settle at the London Stadium and have a positive summer of transfer business to really push on and start competing for silverware and a European qualifying spot.
In order to do this, we need to add between three to five players who can genuinely break into our first team and improve the quality of our starting XI.
We have made one signing so far (Pablo Zabaleta) but more are expected to follow.
Here is the dream West Ham United XI for next season, deployed in a 4-2-3-1 formation…
GK: Joe Hart
Fans seem to be split over whether to sign Joe Hart but the fact of the matter is that he would undoubtedly improve our goalkeeping options.
The England international can be world class on his day and if we can snap him up on a loan deal, he’d be an astute signing.
RB: Pablo Zabaleta
Our first signing this summer – Pablo Zabaleta – addressed our longstanding right back position.
The former Manchester City defender will provide some much-needed experience to that position and act as a perfect mentor for Sam Byram, who could replace him towards the end of next season.
CB: Winston Reid
Winston Reid has been a reliable performer for West Ham over the past several seasons.
The New Zealand international is an absolute rock at the back and is vital to our defence.
CB: Angelo Ogbonna
Hopefully Angelo Ogbonna will be fully fit for next season after missing half of last year.
The Italian international provides a versatile, ball-playing, left-footed option at centre back and he has formed a solid partnership with Reid.
LB: Arthur Masuaku
It’s a tough call between Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku but the Frenchman just pips it for now.
Masuaku was brilliant when he filled in towards the end of last year and Cresswell has been desperately short of form for a while now.
CM: Pedro Obiang
Pedro Obiang is such a solid performer for the Hammers in the middle, breaking up play with interceptions and tackles.
Obiang is also a fantastic passer of the ball and keeps things ticking over in the midfield with tidy displays.
CM: Cheikhou Kouyate
Cheikhou Kouyate has been brilliant for West Ham in the past three seasons and hopefully he will keep this up next year.
The Senegal international shows leadership, defensive and attacking qualities and always give 100% to the cause.
RM: Michail Antonio
When Michail Antonio is fit again, West Ham will be a much-improved outfit.
The speedy winger is a handful for any Premier League full back and he offers goals, assists and that moment of magic.
CAM: Manuel Lanzini
It is time we started building a team around Manuel Lanzini.
The Argentinian international is simply majestic; he can carry the ball around defenders with ease and make something happen out of nothing.
Central attacking midfield is his best position, in my opinion.
LM: Henry Onyekuru
West Ham could be about to beat off a number of teams to land KAS Eupen attacker Henry Onyekuru.
Able to play as a winger or as a striker, the 20-year-old Nigerian international has already netted 25 goals for a lower-table side in Belgium and could be one of the signings of the summer.
ST: Olivier Giroud
If West Ham can pull off a deal for Olivier Giroud, we would have bagged ourselves a top striker at last.
Not rated by Arsenal, the French international striker has a wonderful left foot, is good in the air and has a very decent scoring record.