Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten will be fully aware of the size of the task they face at West Ham United.
The West Ham squad left behind by David Moyes requires urgent attention, and Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten are now on a mission to bring the way we operate as a club into the 21st century.
Interestingly, Steidten took a back-handed dig at Moyes, when praising Lopetegui during a press conference the other day.
One of the former West Ham manager’s biggest failings was his struggles with signing a proper striker to lead the line for the Hammers.
The likes of Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca both failed under Moyes – two very good strikers who were painfully ill-suited to the Scot’s system.
Lopetegui must learn from his predecessor’s mistakes when it comes to the striker signing this summer. He needs to bring in someone who suits his splaying style to a tee.
For a centre-forward to succeed in a Lopetegui side, he needs to be quick, willing to run the channels, strong in the air and a obviously a good finisher.
Basically a Michail Antonio 2.0, but someone who’s proficient in front of goal!
And now it seems like the Hammers could be about to bring in the ideal upgrade on the Jamaica international…
Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten’s summer business to burst into life
The main priority for the Spaniard and the German this summer should be to sign a proven striker as far as I’m concerned.
Yes, we need a top-class centre-back as well, but West Ham cannot afford to head into the new season with Michail Antonio as out main striker yet again.
The 34-year-old is simply not good enough to lead the line for a European place chasing Premier League side anymore.
And it seems as though Lopetegui and Steidten agree with that notion.
The Hammers’ summer transfer business could be about to burst into life…
According to a report from O Jogo (print edition July 4th, page 18), West Ham are ready to make an improved bid for £15.3 million Braga hitman Simon Banza.
I think the 27-year-old is absolutely perfect for the Hammers, and specifically Lopetegui’s system.
The Hammers have been linked with the Congolese ace all summer long, and now could be the time when we make a concrete move for him by all accounts.
Banza is strong in the air, possesses impressive pace and always runs the channels in order to create more space for his teammates.
He’s a very good finisher, as highlighted by his record of 21 goals in 28 league games for Braga last season – second only to Viktor Gyokeres in the Primeira Liga goalscoring charts.
Standing at 6ft 2in tall and athletically built, Banza has the perfect physique needed to succeed in the Premier League, what with its physically robust nature and intense speed.
If Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten work in tandem to bring Simon Banza to West Ham this summer, I’ll be delighted.
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