West Ham United have been extremely active in the transfer market this summer after appointing Manuel Pellegrini.
The Hammers have splashed over £90 million on seven players so far to give new hope to supporters who had grown fed up of co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
Felipe Anderson has become the club’s record signing at over £40 million and West Ham seem determined to make a statement.
Their vastly improved squad playing under an elite manager should mean better football and results next season.
But if the Hammers are serious about moving up to the next level then they still need to address one key missing ingredient, a top quality holding midfielder.
“Declan Rice!” I hear West Ham fans scream. But while young Declan has proved he has what it takes to be a top player in midfield or at centre back West Ham need a seasoned performer in that position.
It is a position that costs big money to address nowadays and Rice will undoubtedly eventually save West Ham £40 million – when they finally get their act together and give him the deal fans feel he deserves.
William Carvalho would have been ideal but has moved to Real Betis.
Every club wants to unearth the next N’Golo Kante, the undisputed best exponent of that position in world football.
Arsenal have signed a player cut from the same cloth in Lucas Torreira and Bayern Munich star Arturo Vidal is being touted around top clubs, as reported by the likes of The Express.
West Ham look to have bought well in terms of defenders and attackers but must find someone who can drop into that deeper midfield role if they want to be taken seriously.
If they do and get it right there is no reason West Ham cannot challenge the top six this season.
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