Fortunately, with Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton mustering fewer points combined than Brighton and Hove Albion in the 2024/25 Premier League season, West Ham United managed to stay clear of a relegation battle while barely creeping out of second gear.
The Hammers famously went down with 42 points all the way back in 2002/03. Two decades later, a tally of 43 was enough to secure West Ham United a 14th place finish.
Yet, presuming Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are destined to improve, and presuming that next season’s promoted trio are superior to those who came before, Graham Potter may not find survival quite so straightforward next time around.
Particularly considering that, as a club source exclusively informed Hammers News over the weekend, West Ham ‘can’t bring players in until we sell’ first.
There is a reason why soon-to-be free-agent Josh Brownhill looks set to be West Ham’s first signing of the summer window.
It is nearly a month now since reports first emerged claiming that £10 million-rated Anderlecht youngster Mario Stroeykens was a target for the London Stadium side.
With the futures of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus, Tomas Soucek and co still up in the air, the sluggish pace of developments has allowed Leeds United to leapfrog West Ham into pole position for the highly-rated Belgium Under-21 international.
Leeds enter talks with West Ham United target Mario Stroeykens
According to Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri, Leeds United have ‘started internal discussions around personal terms’.
The Championship champions are yet to submit an official offer. But, presuming an agreement can be struck with Stroeykens’ representatives, one is likely to arrive sooner rather than later for a midfielder entering the final 12 months of his contract.
“Leeds United are targeting Mario Stroeykens,” Tavolieri writes on his official X account. “Interested in the Belgian’s profile, the Peacocks have started initial discussions around personal terms.”
This is not the first time Tavolieri has spoken out about Stroeykens.
Stroeykens could be a potential Lucas Paqueta successor
In a conversation with Hammers News recently, the reporter indicated that Stroeykens could be a potential Lucas Paqueta replacement with the Brazilian yet to discover the outcome of that long-running spot-fixing trial.
“West Ham are being heavily linked with Stroeykens and yes, let me tell you, he’s good player to follow,” Tavolieri explained. “It will be difficult to [sign him] as there are many clubs interested. I believe Anderlecht would want around £10m, because of his contract situation.
“West Ham would be a good club for Stroeykens to take the next step. Interestingly he is a bit like a Lucas Paqueta-style of player.”
The dynamic Stroeykens scored five goals and assisted seven more for Anderlecht last season, potentially signing off with a long-range rocket in off the crossbar against Club Brugge.
Far from the only Belgian-based star under consideration, West Ham have held talks with Raphael Onyedika too, though Ardon Jashari appears to favour a Manchester City or a Paris Saint-Germain over less high-profile destinations.
Though, unless West Ham can first free up funds by getting the likes of Paqueta off the books, free-agent Brownhill will remain the peak of their limited aspirations.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
