Get a Wriggle-on” | Right Back Ready For Hammers Move. Kyle Walker Peters omission from Southampton’s Squad for their 7-1 friendly thrashing of Eastleigh yesterday should see West Ham making a big transfer move.
The Irons continue preparations for the upcoming Premier League season as we take on Dagenham & Redbridge in a friendly today.
New gaffer Julen Lopetegui took charge of his first match as Hammers boss last Monday, leading his side out against Hungarian team Ferencvaros in a 2-2 draw.
Understandably, the new West Ham boss was keen to downplay any significance surrounding the fixture other than as an opportunity to improve the players’ fitness. However, there were small insights into how the former Real Madrid coach would like the Hammers to play, and the fixture did shine a light on the squad’s lack of depth in the right-back position.
With Vladimir Coufal still on holiday following the European Championships, and no understudy, Lopetegui opted to play Academy forward Gideon Kodua in that role. The Academy graduate toiled and tried his best, but he is no right-back, as was demonstrated when he switched back to his favoured position in the second half.
Whilst it’s no big deal in a friendly match so far away from the start of the season, it does highlight the need for West Ham to get a wriggle on with their recruitment.
A decision really needs to be reached on whether we’re going all out for the transfer of either Kyle Walker-Peters or Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The Southampton man has once again jumped to the head of the queue following his omission from the Saints squad for their friendly match yesterday.
The serious stuff begins when West Ham travels to the United States ahead of the new season; by that time, Lopetegui will want all of his pieces in place.
