A major record looks set to be broken at West Ham this season as David Moyes closes on the imminent key signing of James Ward-Prowse.
West Ham start their new Premier League campaign with a trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.
But the team lining up for the season opener will likely look a lot different to the West Ham side which takes shape from the close of the summer transfer window onwards.
The Hammers completed their first signing of the summer when they unveiled midfielder Edson Alvarez on Thursday.
He was signed in time to face the Cherries – if deemed fit and ready by David Moyes.
Major record set to be broken at West Ham this season as David Moyes closes on imminent key signing of James Ward-Prowse
Alvarez should – all being well – soon be joined at the club by dead ball specialist James Ward-Prowse.
The midfielder is key to Moyes’ plans following the departure of captain Declan Rice.
Ward-Prowse will almost certainly bring more goals and assists than Rice did while Alvarez is statistically better than Rice in terms of what he brings to the team defensively.
So it is clear to see what the vision and thinking behind Moyes’ reshaping of Moyes’ midfield.
And it means some history is likely to be made with the Hammers in the forthcoming campaign.
Because a major record looks set to be broken at West Ham this season as Moyes closes on the imminent key signing of Ward-Prowse.
It’s coming home: Record made in east London looks set to be broken in east London
That is the longstanding Premier League free-kick record held by David Beckham.
Global superstar Beckham, born and raised right here in east London, still holds the record for the most direct free-kick goals in the Premier League era from his 11 seasons at Manchester United.
Beckham scored 18 goals from free-kicks and Ward-Prowse is just one behind him on 17 following his match-winning free-kick against Chelsea for Southampton back in February.
So it looks almost inevitable – with a fair wind – that Ward-Prowse will equal and surpass Beckham’s record in the claret and blue of West Ham next season.
How fitting. Beckham was made in east London and that’s where his record looks set to be broken.
Another big West Ham record could fall in coming seasons too
Another record which could tumble in the coming seasons at West Ham is that of top Premier League goalscorer.
Michail Antonio currently holds that honour with 61 goals in 228 Prem appearances for the Hammers.
But the Jamaican, 34 next season, looks increasingly likely to leave West Ham this summer.
And The Evening Standard claims Moyes will be using Jarrod Bowen as a striker.
Bowen is on 27 Premier League goals and – should West Ham tie him down to a new long-term deal, which they are reportedly trying to do – then it is not unreasonable to expect him to surpass Antonio in the next two to three seasons. Especially is he is operating as a striker.
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