West Ham have undergone a summer of intensive recruitment and naturally, that creates the possibility that existing members of the squad may make way for the new arrivals.
Midfielders Josh Cullen and Robert Snodgrass have both been the subject of reports linking them with loan moves away from the London Stadium this summer.
However, speaking ahead of Saturday’s home game against Bournemouth, Manuel Pellegrini looks to have ruled out the prospect of any more departures before the end of the month.
He told the press: “When you build up a squad, you know you need to let players go out also. Young players like [Toni] Martinez knew this from the beginning and they were going to go on loan.
“The squad we have now is our squad for the season; I don’t think we are going to have any more going out at this moment.”
Cullen was not in the squad for the game at Anfield last weekend, but West Ham’s struggles in midfield could well open the door for the Under 21 Republic of Ireland international to get gametime in east London this season.
Snodgrass’ first-team prospects look greater, having got on the pitch against Liverpool, but the arrival of Andriy Yarmolenko – a left-footed winger who likes to cut in from the right just like the Scotsman – look set to force him down the pecking order this term.
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