West Ham have confirmed their Premier League squad for the season but have only included 23 players.
The Hammers’ squad was published on the Premier League’s official website yesterday, with only 23 of the 25 available slots filled.
Manuel Pellegrini signed a number of players during the summer transfer window and they have fleshed out the squad, which still has two spaces available.
With the transfer window shut, West Ham are unable to sign players until January but could sign free agents to plug the gap.
Homegrown core
Seven homegrown players have been included in West Ham’s squad for the season.
New signings Ryan Fredericks and Jack Wilshere are both players who fit the bill as homegrown, while four English players from last season’s squad remain on West Ham’s books.
Sporadic England international Aaron Cresswell is joined by injury-hit striker Andy Carroll, winger Michail Antonio and captain Mark Noble as homegrown players.
Meanwhile, there is a spot in the squad for Moses Makasi – a 22-year-old midfielder who spent last season on loan at Plymouth Argyle.
Manuel Lanzini included
Despite being ruled out until the new year, Manuel Lanzini is in West Ham’s Premier League squad.
The Argentina international suffered a serious long-term injury just before he was due to represent his country at the World Cup and his presence has been sorely missed in midfield.
No Declan Rice?
Declan Rice was not named in the 25-man senior squad but instead included as an under-21 player.
The 19-year-old is a first-team regular now but he is on the under-21 list alongside other players pushing for senior spots like Issa Diop, Reece Oxford, Nathan Holland and Xande Silva.
This is not unusual – all players that fit this age criterion tend to be registered as under-21 players.
After all, Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus is down as an under-21.
Free agents incoming?
There are two spots remaining in West Ham’s senior squad, sparking speculation that Pellegrini may dip into the free agent market to make one or two more signings.
But who could West Ham sign? Miguel Veloso, Balazs Dzsudzsak and Claudio Yacob are three available options.
Or could there be an emotional return for James Collins, who was released by the Irons at the end of last season?
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