Nuno Espirito Santo will have to be clever with any available funds as he plots West Ham’s promotion back to the Premier League so free transfers could be key.
The Hammers must plug a financial black hole after relegation to the Championship.
Whether by player sales or injection of funds from the owners or new investors – or a combination of those things – West Ham must realistically raise around £100-150m.
So the funds available to Nuno Espirito Santo for his Championship title tilt will be precious.
Bissouma one of eight released Premier League stars West Ham could sign
The good news is Daniel Kretinsky has jaw-dropping plans for West Ham according to a prominent journalist who is well connected at the club.
Regardless, there is no doubt the Hammers will have to look at the free agent market for some of their business.
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It would be financially prudent given the millions wasted on recruitment in the last three years.
And there are plenty of quality players that fall into that category.
Here we look at eight released Premier League stars West Ham could realistically sign for their title push.
Clearly we are not suggesting the Hammers should or will sign all eight – but there is no reason the players listed could not be lured to the London Stadium.
Solly March
A player who always seems to have a good game against West Ham, winger Solly March has just been released by Brighton after 14 years with the club.
A pacy, tricky winger who would be a real coup in the Championship, March is 31 but would be a clever signing given he can play off the left and right wing as well as wingback.
It could be argued West Ham would be upgrading by signing March after releasing Adama Traore.
Adam Webster
With Axel Disasi leaving following the end of his loan spell and West Ham looking to ship out Jean-Clair Todibo, ball-playing centre-back Adam Webster on a free transfer could be perfect for the Championship.
Like March, Webster is 31 and has just been released by Brighton.
West Ham were heavily linked with Webster when Graham Potter was manager and at 6ft 3in, he could be another intelligent addition for the second tier.
Kieran Trippier
Wolves announced the free transfer signing of Kieran Trippier earlier this week in what looked a real coup for West Ham’s likely title rivals.
But just 24 hours later the club sacked manager Rob Edwards out of nowhere.
Trippier is reportedly angry having signed to work with Edwards and he is said to be looking to rip up his Wolves contract, which does not start until July 1st.
If that happens and the former England star, who is now 35, becomes available as a free agent again, West Ham could deal a real blow to Wolves by snapping him up.
With Aaron Wan-Bissaka likely to be sold by the Hammers, a new right-back will be a necessity.
Nathaniel Clyne
Another right-back who is available on a free this summer is Nathaniel Clyne following his release by Crystal Palace.
Clyne has been linked with West Ham on countless occasions throughout his career.
At 35 his Premier League days look over, but Clyne should still be up to it in the Championship, where he can share the load of a gruelling 46-game season with Kyle Walker-Peters.
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Yves Bissouma
If West Ham fans can get past the fact he has been playing for bitter rivals Tottenham, midfielder Yves Bissouma could be a stunning bit of business for a promotion campaign in the second tier.
Bissouma was one of the most highly-regarded central midfielders in the Premier League when Spurs signed him from Brighton.
He never hit the same heights in north London and has had some off-field disciplinary issues.
But if Nuno can get him focused and hungry signing Bissouma for nothing could prove to be a masterstroke.
At 29, he should have some of his peak years ahead of him. There will likely be Premier League interest in Bissouma but not from any clubs bigger than West Ham.
With Mateus Fernandes likely to be sold if a club meets his £80m valuation, Bissouma could be a fantastic signing for what West Ham need in the next year or two.
Sunderland trio
A by-product of Sunderland’s brilliant recruitment in recent seasons is the release of 15 players deemed surplus to requirements at the Stadium of Light.
That’s where West Ham might be able to benefit with three players who could be of interest.
Left-back Dennis Cirkin is leaving the Black Cats on a free after five years, having helped push the club from the third tier to the top-flight, playing 120 times.
The 24-year-old would represent clever business for the Hammers and someone who knows what the Championship is all about.
Sunderland have also released defensive midfielder Dan Neil, who has been heavily linked with West Ham in the recent past, and attacker Bertrand Traore, and both could be useful options in the Championship.
Neil is 24 and Traore is 30, meaning West Ham could get decent service from both.
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