Daily WHUFC News - 24th May 2018

Exclusive: Manuel Pellegrini's first interview as West Ham United manager
WHUFC.com

Manuel Pellegrini is excited and energised by the prospect of returning to the Premier League to manage West Ham United. The experienced Chilean has been a success wherever he has been, winning trophies in four different countries, including the Premier League with Manchester City in 2014, and qualifying for continental competition in all but one of his 12 seasons in European football. Pellegrini, who has signed a three-year contract at London Stadium, arrived in east London on Monday to start work immediately on turning West Ham into one of English football's most exciting teams. On the 64-year-old's agenda are the appointment of his backroom staff, finalising the Club's pre-season plans and identifying and recruiting new players to bolster his squad. With the FIFA World Cup finals kicking-off in Russia next month and a shorter than normal summer transfer window, time is of the essence, but the calm and composed South American is confident the Hammers have time to do good business before the 2018/19 Premier League season gets underway in August.

"We are going to start working today, first of all to prepare a good pre-season which is very important," Pellegrini confirmed. "After that, we will try to finish the squad as soon as we can, but I think we must be patient to find the right players with the amount of money that this club will spend this season. "So, we need to work with every day from now until the start of the season, because the time is a little bit short. But we have time and I am confident that, with hard work, we have enough time to build this squad."

Having previously managed the likes of River Plate, Real Madrid and Manchester City, Pellegrini is well-versed in handling the expectations of large and passionate fanbases. And the man who led both Villarreal and Malaga to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League also has a reputation for getting the very best out of the players at his disposal. For those reasons, therefore, the Claret and Blue Army can feel confident and optimistic about the future under their new manager. "It's very important to be clear that we are starting a new project. Maybe as soon as you can reach important achievements it's better, but we need time. I think we need to start the new season going game by game and not trying to start with a target, because it's not easy. "Taking it game by game and with the players taking on and practising my ideas, I think we are going to be a good football team."

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Hammer of the Year Arnautovic called-up by Austria
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic has been called-up by Austria for a trio of international friendly matches. The West Ham United forward, who is the most-experienced in Franco Foda's squad with 69 caps, will welcome Russia, Germany and Brazil in the lead-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. While the Burchen themselves did not qualify, Arnautovic and company will play their part in helping the hosts and two of the pre-tournament favourites prepare for the competition. Russia will visit the Tivoli Stadion in Innsbruck on Wednesday 30 May before Germany are welcomed to the Worthersee-Stadion in Klagenfurt on Saturday 2 May. The game will be shown live in the UK by BT Sport 2, with kick-off at 4.45pm. Finally, five-times World Cup winners Brazil will be the visitors to the Ernst Happel Stadion in Arnautovic's home city of Vienna on Sunday 10 May. With 19 goals, the 29-year-old is also the leading scorer in Foda's squad, with Bayern Munich's David Alaba the only other player to hit double figures with 12. The Hammer of the Year made his debut as long ago as October 2008, when he appeared as a substitute in a World Cup qualifying tie in the Faroe Islands. The No7 has fond memories of facing Russia, having tasted victory over the World Cup hosts in two UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers. He has faced Germany three times, losing all three, but scoring once and assisting twice in those matches, and tackled Brazil once, but the South Americans ran out 2-1 winners in Vienna in November 2014. Austria missed out on qualification for the World Cup themselves, finishing fourth in a group that also contained qualifiers Serbia, Republic of Ireland and Wales.

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Birthday boy Ogbonna recalls his favourite West Ham match
WHUFC.com

On the day he celebrates his 30th birthday, Angelo Ogbonna recalls his standout appearance in the Claret and Blue of West Ham United. Unsurprisingly, the Italy defender has selected the night he made the Boleyn Ground rock under the lights...

The Build Up

Ground, beating the Reds twice in the Premier League, 3-1 and 2-0. Liverpool's final visit to the Hammers' historic home of 112 years came in the Emirates FA Cup, however, in an epic fourth-round replay played on a clear, cold Tuesday night in February 2016. Eleven days previously, the Hammers had held Jurgen Klopp's side to a goalless draw in the initial tie, with goalkeeper Darren Randolph's man of the match performance earning the visitors a second bite of the cherry with a stupendous triple save from Christian Benteke and Joe Allen.

"It was a big occasion," Ogbonna recalled. "We were thinking that when we played the first match, if we could have won away it would have been important for us. so when we drew we were a bit disappointed. But I remember thinking on the night that the opponents looked scared and there was no reason for us to fear them. "Before the game, the atmosphere inside the Boleyn Ground was unbelievable, which made us more comfortable. We said to ourselves, we have to go ahead and win! We knew we could beat Liverpool, because we had fantastic players who could keep the ball, like Dimitri Payet, and when you compared our players, we had a very high level and we knew we could win."

The Match

Slaven Bilic made three changes to his starting XI for the replay, replacing James Tomkins, Alex Song and Victor Moses with Joey O'Brien, Mark Noble and Michail Antonio. The manager also made a tactical switch from the five-man defence he deployed at Anfield to a flat back four, with Ogbonna partnering Winston Reid in the centre. Liverpool boss Klopp picked a team full of youngsters, aside from goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, midfielder Lucas and forwards Benteke and Coutinho, while the likes of Divock Origi, Daniel Sturridge and James Milner were introduced from the bench. Unlike the original tie, the replay was a thriller. "It was a great game," Ogbonna confirmed. "There were many chances and I think the fans loved it!"

Coutinho and Payet both hit the woodwork before Michail Antonio acrobatically volleyed West Ham into the lead on the stroke of half-time. Within three minutes of the restart, Coutinho levelled with a low free-kick, before Klopp introduced Origi and Sturridge on the hour-mark. Both sides traded chance after chance, with Enner Valencia being denied a clear penalty, but there were no further goals in eight added minutes and a further half-hour of extra time. With a penalty shootout looming large, however, Payet delivered a free-kick into the penalty area and Ogbonna rose above a forest of heads to send the ball arcing into Mignolet's top right-hand corner. The capacity Boleyn Ground crowd erupted, while the West Ham players formed a bundle on the pitch.

The last-gasp goal sparked wild celebrations on the Boleyn Ground pitch

"I was lucky because the ball came into that position and I said to myself 'I have to go and get it' and I got it!" the match-winner recalled, smiling as he remembered the moment. "The celebrations were fantastic. In that moment, it was so important for us, not just because of that game but because we had stayed together that season. The most important thing is the group, and it's important to be with your teammates when you achieve something. "For us, we were so happy for that moment and we all wanted to celebrate together, the players, the fans, everyone."

The Reaction

Unsurprisingly, the media were caught up in the euphoria of West Ham's dramatic victory. The Sun's Charlie Wyett described the atmosphere at the final whistle as 'terrific and, frankly, a bit bonkers', and the moment Ogbonna's header hit the back of the Liverpool net as 'spine-tingling'. In The Telegraph, Sam Wallace said the goal was 'the kind of moment that supporters remember for the rest of their lives'. Manager Slaven Bilic was caught up too, claiming in his post-match press conference that 'this will go down in history as one of the greatest nights, and greatest games, for our club'.

Angelo Ogbonna
✔
@OgbonnaOfficial
My graet Men ! ! ! @pedrombaobiang @payetdimitri27 http://ift.tt/1RnMMcc
2:42 AM - Feb 10, 2016
748

Ogbonna himself tweeted two photos, one of him celebrating his goal and a second from the dressing room, where he sat alongside a jubilant Payet and Pedro Obiang. The final word, of course, belongs to the man himself. "I've got a lot of photos and things from that game in my house," he revealed. "It will always be a great memory for me, scoring that beautiful goal in the last season at the Boleyn Ground. "Every time I see that goal, I say to myself 'That moment was unbelievable!'. I think it was really good, for sure my favourite moment in a West Ham shirt."

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'Heartbroken' James Collins to leave West Ham this summer
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 23/05/18 6:51pm
SSN

James Collins has confirmed he will be leaving West Ham this summer and says he is "heartbroken" by his exit from the club. The 34-year-old is coming to the end of his current contract and seemingly bid farewell to the Hammers fans following their final day 3-1 win over Everton earlier this month. Sky Sports News understands Collins was informed by the West Ham board over 10 days ago that it was unlikely he would be offered fresh terms to remain, but the final judgement would be made by the club's new manager Manuel Pellegrini. The former Wales international was omitted from West Ham's retained list which was sent to the Premier League on Saturday and he is now set to become the first player to leave since Pellegrini took charge.

As it stands I will be leaving West Ham on June 30th... Heartbroken 💔
A post shared by James Collins (@gingercollins19) on May 23, 2018 at 7:33am PDT

In a post released on his official Instagram page, Collins said: "As it stands I will be leaving West Ham on June 30th... Heartbroken." Collins first joined West Ham from Cardiff in 2005 and spent four years at the club before leaving for Aston Villa. He returned in 2012 following West Ham's promotion back to the Premier League and has since spent the last six seasons with the east London side. Collins made 214 appearances during his two spells with West Ham.

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Will Manuel Pellegrini be able to get West Ham playing attacking football?
Last Updated: 22/05/18 5:06pm
SSN

Manuel Pellegrini insists on playing attacking football but will he be able to transform West Ham? Adam Bate take a look at the veteran coach's credentials for the job and the challenges ahead...

"I always play attacking football."

That was the line from Manuel Pellegrini that will have West Ham supporters intrigued about the possibilities next season. The Chilean talked of playing "football that will delight the fans" and that is, of course, precisely what they will want to hear. The 64-year-old coach might not be the freshest of faces but he does come with considerable pedigree.

For instance, Pellegrini has already done something that neither West Ham as a club nor any of their previous managers have achieved - he has lifted the English title, one of only 10 coaches to do so in the Premier League era. His Manchester City side even scored 102 goals en route to winning that trophy during the 2013/14 season, his first in English football.

But if West Ham fans are wondering how transferable that achievement is to life at the London Stadium, it is worth remembering Pellegrini has demonstrated an ability to entertain everywhere he has been. After winning titles in Chile and Argentina, he succeeded in producing a plethora of attacking teams during his nine-year stay in Spain.

"He tries to keep the ball and his teams always play good," Pep Guardiola once said of his predecessor at City. "I would like to be like him. No matter which team he is training, his teams always play in the same way. So his fingerprints, his footprints, his trademark on his teams is always there. It happened at Villarreal, at Malaga and at Real Madrid."

This is what will be of more interest to David Sullivan. It's not necessarily his 96-point season with Real Madrid, a then record for the club as well as another 102-goal campaign. Instead, it is those top-four finishes with Villarreal and Malaga, clubs at which he showcased an ability to take teams to the next level - vastly improving the style of play in the process.

Malaga had finished only a point above the relegation zone prior to Pellegrini's appointment in the summer of 2010 with only Osasuna having a worse pass completion record. But aided by significant investment, he succeeded in transforming their approach. Malaga were among the top-six passers in La Liga for each of his three seasons at the helm.

That is the norm under Pellegrini. Every team that he has coached over the past decade, including, most recently, Hebei China Fortune, have ranked among that top six for passing. As Guardiola suggests, this is a coach with the ability to implement his own style. But that is an ability that will surely be tested to its limits at West Ham given their recent record.

Last season was a struggle. When David Moyes was appointed in November, his focus was on securing the club's Premier League status. Entertainment was not high on the agenda. In truth, but for a brief period in which Dimitri Payet flourished at Upton Park, it has seldom seemed a priority ever since Sam Allardyce took West Ham back up in 2012.

Manuel Pellegrini revealed his wishlist of up to five players as he promised an attacking revolution at West Ham after being unveiled as the new boss. In each of the six seasons since their return to the top flight, the team has ranked among the bottom half of the table for both passing accuracy and possession. Even when they enjoyed relative success during Slaven Bilic's first season in charge, this was achieved through counter-attacking football rather than possession play.

Pellegrini will seek to do it differently. How feasible that is with the players currently at his disposal will be a matter for debate. No team in the Premier League conceded more goals than West Ham last season so there is work to do defensively and the midfield will need to be overhauled too. Keeping Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini will be important.

In his opening address to supporters, Pellegrini referred to bringing in "maybe another four or five players" but while those additions could well be enough to keep the club away from danger, they will need to be high quality to bring about the proposed style changes. Until there is more investment, former West Ham defender Tony Gale is remaining cautious.

"I will only be happy when West Ham release the funds to buy players because managers are only as good as the players they are working with," Tony Gale tells Sky Sports. "Let's hope this isn't a smokescreen by the West Ham board so that they don't have to buy players. There is a lot of money in those West Ham coffers and they need to spend it.

"They need major surgery to that football team in the region of £75m to £100m. Money attracts top players. I think they have to back up their position with Pellegrini by giving him that money to spend on players. The whole club needs a turnaround not just the manager and hopefully he is someone who has the experience to convince them of that."

Gale, part of the West Ham team that finished third in 1986, knows all about the club's tradition for playing attractive and entertaining football. That is what the West Ham owners are attempting to tap into once again with the appointment of Pellegrini. His record suggests he can deliver. West Ham's own record of late suggests that it will be easier said than done.

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Manuel Pellegrini's in-tray: what the new West Ham manager must tackle
Jacob Steinberg
The Guardian
The 2014 Premier League winner with Manchester City has to stiffen the defence, rebalance the squad and handle controversial owners
@JacobSteinberg
Wed 23 May 2018 08.00 BST Last modified on Wed 23 May 2018 08.01 BST

Manuel Pellegrini has said he wants to play football that will delight the fans but nobody will be smiling if West Ham's defending does not improve. David Moyes settled on a 3-4-2-1 system because he did not trust his ponderous side to function properly in a more open formation. Yet it was a stop-gap manoeuvre and West Ham still finished with the Premier League's joint-worst defensive record alongside relegated Stoke, conceding 68 goals. Pellegrini will need to sort out that weakness before thinking about a more expansive style. There have been too many humiliations in the past two seasons.

Adrián is the only senior goalkeeper, there is not enough energy in midfield or cover in defence, Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll are rarely fit, Moyes had nobody to play on the right wing, there is too much reliance on Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini and the bench was often filled by novices and free transfers last season. Pellegrini has spoken about making five signings but the squad requires more surgery. The question is how much money is available, though, and the Chilean will need to sell players. Sam Byram, Jordan Hugill and Reece Oxford, who is wanted by Borussia Mönchengladbach, could all go. Carroll and Javier Hernández should also be vulnerable.

Help to improve the club's recruitment

West Ham's signings since moving to London Stadium in 2016 have largely been underwhelming and that has led to David Sullivan, the club's influential co-owner, receiving a lot of criticism. However, Sullivan has handed Pellegrini control of transfers and West Ham are looking for a new head of recruitment. Málaga's Mario Husillos and Leicester City's Eduardo Macià are potential appointments and whoever comes in must implement a more focused scouting system. West Ham are crying out for greater youth and intensity.

Assess whether Oxford is worth keeping

The defender spent most of last season on loan at Mönchengladbach and has been a target for Red Bull Leipzig. Oxford enjoyed his time in Germany and was glad to return to the Bundesliga after being briefly recalled by Moyes over Christmas. Yet while Gladbach want to sign the 19-year-old in a £12m deal, Pellegrini should give a chance to a player who announced himself with a fine performance against Arsenal three years ago. Oxford is a versatile talent and although there have been doubts over his attitude, it is debatable whether West Ham should be willing to let one of their academy products leave.

Deal with an unpopular board

West Ham have struggled since leaving Upton Park and the board came in for fierce criticism during the home defeat by Burnley in March. With that in mind, perhaps Pellegrini's experience at Málaga will be relevant. The former Manchester City manager dealt with a difficult owner at La Rosaleda and kept his players onside when money dried up, so he might know how to handle Sullivan. Yet whether Pellegrini's appointment on a deal worth up to £7m a year represents value for money remains to be seen. The 64-year-old's predecessors were undermined in the transfer market. Having made a big statement, though, Sullivan has to back it up.

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David Gold wants West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini to turn Ireland international Declan Rice into England player
Gold confused the player's nationality while saying what he wants from Pellegrini
Sports Staff
The Independent Sport

West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has suggested that he wants new manager Manuel Pellegrini to develop Republic of Ireland international Declan Rice into an England player. Pellegrini was announced as David Moyes' successor on Tuesday, being made the third best paid manager in the Premier League in the process, on a three year contract. With such a pay-packet, coupled with the Hammers having one of the biggest wage bills in the league, there was some worry that West Ham's owners would be expected too much of their new boss.

Daniel Gabbidon ✔
@Gabbidon35
Ha ha! David Gold hoping Manuel Pellegrini will turn Declan Rice into and ENGLAND player... Already setting unrealistic targets! 😂😂😂
10:51 AM - May 23, 2018 · Malmesbury, England

And it appears as though that is the case, with co-owner Gold telling talkSPORT his dreams for 19-year-old Rice, who made his debut for the club earlier this season. "I'm looking forward to the new manager turning Declan Rice into a strong English defender for the future of the England team," Gold told the radio station. The only problem with that is that Rice, who played 27 times last season, has represented the Republic of Ireland since under-16s and made his senior international debut in March this year, during a 1-0 win to Turkey.

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Pellegrini poised to land first signing
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd May 2018
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are close to completing a deal for Derby County youngster Luke Thomas. Thomas, 19, was named as the Rams' Young Player of the Year last season but is set to complete a move to West Ham two years after joining the Championship club from Cheltenham Town. Having made his first team debut in a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers last November, Thomas went on to feature on one further occasion for County in the Championship - in a 3-0 win over Bolton last month. West Ham are understood to have had an offer in the region of £1.2million accepted by Derby, of which approximately £180,000 would go to the Robins due to a contractual clause entitling them to 15 per cent of any fee. Derby have deicded to cash in on Thomas having failed to reach the Championship play-off final; despite beating Fulham 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-final, Fulham's 2-1 win in the return fixture saw the Cottagers proceed to Wembley at County's expense.

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WEST HAM MUST MOVE FOR MAWSONFeatured Image
Date: 23rd May 2018 at 7:00pm
Written by: Dominic Toner
Forever WesTHam

West Ham defender James Collins confirmed on Wednesday he is leaving at the end of the season and the club now need to move swiftly to find a replacement.
The 34-year-old revealed on his official Instagram account that he will be exiting the London Stadium this summer when his contract expires. His exit has not gone down well with supporters after 217 appearances for the Hammers and manager Manuel Pellegrini now needs to look at bringing in a new centre-back option as soon as possible. West Ham have already been linked with a move for Alfie Mawson following Swansea's relegation from the Premier League and Pellegrini should step up the interest immediately. The Guardian reported that both West Ham and Southampton were interested in the enforcer and that he is likely to cost £20million. It is understood his value could have been much higher had an injury not ruined his World Cup hopes with England and if the Swans had stayed in the top flight. West Ham need to try wrap up a deal for Mawson quickly and he would be the sort of marquee addition that would be an excellent start to the Pellegrini era. The no-nonsense centre-back was the standout player for Swansea this season and has the quality to be a real force in the Premier League. He has an excellent range of passing that could see him slot in nicely to the Hammers backline and would be an improvement on their existing options. Mawson's £20million price tag looks an absolute bargain in today's market and the 24-year-old would help bring down the average age too.

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WEST HAM SHOULD SWOOP FOR CANCELOFeatured Image
Date: 23rd May 2018 at 5:37pm
Written by: Dominic Toner
Forever WesTHam

West Ham are set for a busy summer of spending under new manger Manuel Pellegrini and they should get things off with a bang by chasing Valencia defender Joao Cancelo. Co-owner David Gold confirmed that the Hammers are likely to enjoy a record-breaking window of spending this summer and they do need several top-class reinforcements to shoot up the table next season. One area they need to strengthen is at right-back, where they could do with a young option despite an impressive campaign from veteran Pablo Zabaleta. They should consider hijacking reported interest in Cancelo and he could be a brilliant long-term solution at the London Stadium. Italian news outlet Tutto Mercato Web reports that Wolves are keen on signing the 23-year-old, while Inter Milan are unlikely to activate a £30.7million release clause for him after his loan spell with them this season.
West Ham should enter the running for the attack-minded right-back to improve their side, but it's unclear how much Valencia will demand for him. He is a right-sided flyer with brilliant pace and loves to bomb forward in attack, something that should fit Pellegrini's style of play well. The Portugal international has three goals in six caps for his nation and has the potential to develop into a real star. It would be a real sign of intent if West Ham manager to bring in a full-back of his quality, but it remains to be seen if Pellegrini will bring in high-profile player and splash huge amount of cash..

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Why Manuel Pellegrini's work away from Real Madrid and Manchester City is what really counts for West Ham
ES Football Newsletter

When West Ham's new manager Manuel Pellegrini was the coach of Real Madrid, the club signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso among 10 summer arrivals. The team finished his one season in the job in 2009-10 as runners-up to Barcelona. They lost in the Champions League's last-16 against Lyon. They were beaten 4-0 by Second Division Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey. So Pellegrini was sacked because he shouldn't possibly have failed with such an array of new talent at his disposal. What wasn't included in the justification for his axing was the fact that within weeks of his arrival at the Bernabeu, Real sold the Dutch pair Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder against his will. Of course, he will have known beforehand that the club's transfer policy would be run from above the dugout. And that it would largely consist of swapping one set of Galacticos for another. That didn't prevent him from arguing after his departure that for all the wonderful talent he had been given to work with, his squad was unbalanced. Or that the cause was the endless pursuit of new superstars to replace old ones.
"They signed the best players, but not the best players needed in a certain position," he said when later ruminating on his time in charge. "It's no good having an orchestra with the 10 best guitarists if I don't have a pianist."

He will not get to sign Galacticos at West Ham. He will not compete in the Champions League. He won't finish second in the league. But what must be significant for Hammers fans is that Pellegrini has shown such a public understanding of the need for any squad to be balanced. That is because West Ham's squad currently looks like the most flawed and impractical in the Premier League. What will also resonate is Pellegrini's regret that transfer dealings at Real were out of his control.
The fervent suspicion among vast numbers of the supporters in east London is that co-owner David Sullivan has had a disproportionate and malign influence on recruitment.

This, they argue, is the reason for the unevenness of the squad and the failure of expensive signings like Andre Ayew during the first two troubled seasons at the club's new home. Along with Sullivan's fondness for public pronouncements and publicity, they want it to end. It may be just a perception in the stands that Sullivan dabbles too much. But it is just as important now - after forking out £10million a year to land such a high-profile manager - that West Ham prove they really have turned the corner. They can do this by ensuring that the four or five new arrivals he plans make sense, and address the need to improve the squad in every area in a constructive and thoughtful way. The time for what has appeared to be a scattergun, headline- driven approach to the transfer market is over.

Pellegrini certainly plays the kind of exciting, attacking football which can make life inside the soulless London Stadium more bearable for the fans. Players like Marko Arnautovic, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio should relish his appointment. But the dramatic change required across the board at West Ham will not happen unless the strength, measure and quality of the squad is vastly improved. So the news that a top-level new head of recruitment is being sought must also encourage the supporters. The new manager may also be able to bring a sense of calm to a club which has made far too many uproarious column inches in recent times. Some may fear that Pellegrini's low-key demeanour suggests a willingness to accommodate the 'idiosyncrasies' of the boardroom. But he has 30 years' experience as a manager, and that must count most of all at West Ham now. At Manchester City, he restored order and success after the turbulent end to Roberto Mancini's reign. The Hammers could certainly do with a similar act now. However, it is not Pellegrini's title-winning work at City or his spell at Real which is important now. It is the work he did at smaller clubs like Villarreal and Malaga which is more significant for West Ham. True enough, during his five years at Villarreal he had players like Juan Roman Riquleme and Diego Forlan to work with - a notably higher calibre than he has inherited at West Ham. But it was still a fine achievement to reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2005-06. They also finished second in 2007-08 thanks to his ability to inspire attacking players and lift his teams by encouraging them to play on the front foot and express themselves.
At Malaga he finished fourth in his first full season and then - despite a massive financial crisis which forced the sale of Santi Cazorla and Salomon Rondon in 2012 - he reached the last eight of the Champions League in 2013. Now West Ham need to match the standard of players Pellegrini worked with at Villarreal and Malaga if his appointment is to be worthwhile. Many supporters remain suspicious of the board's approach to spending; but the appointment of Pellegrini is certainly a big statement of intent. This can be a new beginning after the turmoil of the first two years away from Upton Park. But that is all it is for now - a beginning. One that must be followed up boldly, expansively and, yes, expensively.

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World Cup 2018: Senegal captain Cheikhou Kouyate says squad is ready to make their country proud
Senegal will make only their second World Cup appearance when they compete in Group H at next month's finals in Russia against Poland, Japan and Colombia
The Independent Sport

Senegal's primary objective at the World Cup is to make their people proud and "write our own story", captain Cheikhou Kouyate told reporters as the squad began training in the beach resort of Saly-Portudal. Senegal will make only their second World Cup appearance when they compete in Group H at next month's finals in Russia against Poland, Japan and Colombia. Their previous appearance in 2002 saw them beat holders France in the opening game and go onto to become only the second African team to reach the quarter-finals. "The World Cup is a competition that takes place every four years and it is not given to everyone to take part," Kouyate said. "We have the chance now to participate and we will prepare well to please the Senegalese people. We want to write our own story. "We are going to play match by match, but the most important thing is to be ready on the day of the game," the West Ham United midfielder added. Senegal's preparations got off to a slow start with just seven players on hand for their first training session at the Diambars academy, some 80-kilometres from the capital Dakar, on Tuesday.
However, they expect a full squad on Thursday, save for Sadio Mane, who plays for Liverpool in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Kiev on Saturday. "It is our brother who plays and although there are supporters of Real Madrid in our squad, for this final everyone supports Liverpool because we want Sadio to win this trophy," Kouyate added. "We hope he will do it because it will push us to try and win the World Cup."

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WEST HAM RETAIN INTEREST IN FULHAM DUOFeatured Image
Date: 23rd May 2018 at 3:17pm
Written by: Guy Giles
Forever WestHam

West Ham retain a heavy interest in Fulham duo Ryan Fredericks and Tom Cairney after the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager, according to the Evening Standard. The newspaper report that confirmation of Pellegrini as their next boss has not tempered the club's hunt for right-back Fredericks and attacking midfielder Cairney. The Standard claim that any potential moves will however depend on the outcome of Saturday's Championship play-off final, with Fulham set to face Aston Villa for a place in the Premier League next season.

Good move for West Ham?

A move for Fredericks makes perfect sense for the Hammers, with the jet-heeled flyer available on a free this summer. The 25-year-old speed demon would bring more dynamism to the right side of defence, which would suit Pellegrini's style of play, and that one looks to be a no-brainer.
Cairney on the other hand is a different matter entirely, with the classy playmaker set to cost the Hammers a relatively large fee this summer. Previous reports suggested the 27-year-old Scotland international would cost around £20million, and there are surely other, less injury-prone players around who would be better options for the club at this point in time.

As the report states, the major issue here will be the result of the play-off final on Saturday. Should Fulham win that, then the likelihood will surely be that Fredericks and Cairney will stay at Craven Cottage. However, should Villa win, then both moves would very much be on the cards, with both players known to have designs on playing in the top-flight.

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Jordan Hugill reportedly set for early West Ham exit, move a mistake for all
HITC
Olly Dawes

West Ham United are reportedly set to sell striker Jordan Hugill. West Ham United are set for a host of changes this summer, and The Times report that a host of players are primed for the exit after Manuel Pellegrini's arrival as manager. The Hammers are reportedly set to let Andy Carroll, Reece Burke, Edimilson Fernandes and Sam Byram leave the club this summer as Pellegrini pursues reinforcements, and Jordan Hugill is also on that list. Hugill, 25, only joined West Ham from Preston North End in January, with the Hammers paying £10m to land the centre forward (BBC Sport), but he could already be facing the exit door. A former non-league striker, Hugill hit 30 goals in 114 games for Preston and impressed in the Football League with his work rate and physical attributes, though technically there were always questions over his suitability for the Premier League. Since being snapped up by David Moyes, Hugill has remarkably played just 22 minutes of Premier League action for West Ham, and didn't feature at all in April or May. Now, it seems that Hugill – who is contracted with West Ham until the summer of 2022 – is now set to leave the London Stadium already, in a move which simply hasn't paid dividends for anybody. Hugill has barely featured and may be forced to up sticks again this summer, just months after heading down to London; West Ham may lose money on their January investment after barely using him, whilst Preston missed out on the Championship play-offs and may just feel that they could have got over the line with Hugill still in their squad. A move back to Preston is almost impossible due to the money now involved, but one of the Championship's big spenders may well be keen on Hugill, and it would appear that West Ham are ready to cut short the striker's stay in what has been a disastrous move.

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Meet Jose Cabello - Manuel Pellegrini's trusted fitness coach set to join him in London
The new manager has yet to name his backroom staff but he is set to bring his trusted sidekicks with him
By Sam Inkersole West Ham Correspondent
14:00, 23 MAY 2018UPDATED14:09, 23 MAY 2018

New West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini looks set to bring another trusted lieutenant with him to the capital as he starts to shape his backroom team. The 64-year-old is expected to bring assistant manager Ruben Cousillas to join him as assistant manager at the London Stadium and football.london understands others who have worked with the manager for the last 12 years are set to follow suit. One of those is fitness coach Jose Cabello, who has been with Pellegrini since their days at Malaga. Former fitness coach at the Hammers, Nick Davies, departed the club in the wake of David Moyes leaving east London after a short six-month spell in the capital. Cabello is an important part of Pellegrini's set up and that is not expected to change. Upon taking charge at Manchester City, Pellegrini immediately stressed how important fitness is, saying: "The most important thing at the moment is the fitness and they're working very hard with Jose."

Cabello, 44, is known for his hard-working sessions where the Spaniard likes to consistently simulate playing conditions within his fitness regime at football clubs.
Pellegrini and Cabello had the City players training three times a day when he first rocked up at the Etihad to whip them in to shape. West Ham were very unfit under Slaven Bilic, that improved a lot under Moyes but it's still not likely to be enough for Pellegrini and Cabello. In a sign of what could be to come, when City jetted off for a pre-season tour in 2013, Pellegrini said: "In terms of football, they're just playing small games of six or seven-a-side with one touch, but nothing more." Pellegrini has yet to announce his backroom staff at the Hammers after agreeing his contract at the London Stadium on Monday.

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West Ham will not sign Yaya Toure this summer as Manuel Pellegrini targets Fulham duo and younger players
KEN DYER
ES Sport

West Ham will not be signing Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure this summer. The 35-year-old, who is a free agent, had been linked with a move to the club even before Manuel Pellegrini, his former boss at City, was announced as West Ham's new manager. The close links between the pair shortened the odds on the move happening, but it is understood West Ham have no interest in signing Toure. Pellegrini, who has said the club want to sign "four or five players" before the start of next season, is instead keen on attracting younger players with pace to the club. West Ham retain a strong interest in Fulham full-back Ryan Fredericks and midfielder Tom Cairney but the outcome may depend on whether Fulham win promotion against Aston Villa on Saturday. The arrival of Pellegrini also means Javier Hernandez is likely to stay. The striker's opportunities were limited last season, as David Moyes employed just one striker most of the time. Pellegrini has favoured a more attacking style with previous clubs and looks likely to offer Hernandez more chances. One of the Chilean's first appointments is expected to be Ruben Cousillas as assistant manager. Another priority is finalising the appointment of a head of recruitment, with co-owner David Sullivan having promised to take a step back from being in charge of player signings. Favourite for the role is Eduardo Macia, who has been at Leicester since September 2016

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West Ham EXCLUSIVE – 'We will spend more money this summer than in any previous window', says co-chairman David Gold
Listen back to talkSPORT's exclusive interview with West Ham co-chairman David Gold
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Wednesday, May 23, 2018

West Ham co-chairman David Gold has promised fans the club will make another huge statement of intent in the summer transfer window following the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini. Pellegrini was unveiled as the new Hammers manager on Tuesday, with the arrival of a Premier League-winning boss seen as a big step toward the club's goal of competing for European football. There are reports the former Manchester City and Real Madrid boss will get £75million to spend to strengthen his squad, as West Ham look to improve on their 13th-place finish to the Premier League. And, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to talkSPORT host Jim White on Wednesday, Hammers chief Gold confirmed the boss will be given funds. "You can't put a figure on [what Pellegrini has to spend this summer] because you don't know the players who are going to leave, therefore that will add to the kitty, or wont, as it might be," he said. "What I can assure everybody is that we'll probably spend more money in this window than we've spent in any window in the past. "That bodes well for our intent and we must wait and see where it takes us."
Pellegrini has already said he hopes to sign four or five new players this summer, and Gold has revealed the new boss is already hard at work in the transfer market. "He's working on it right now, that's his job, that's why he's been brought in," added the Hammers chief. "He's identified the positions he feels he needs to strengthen and it's up to him now to tell us the players and we'll do everything we can to bring them in."

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F365 Says: Pellegrini needs more than protection money
Date published: Wednesday 23rd May 2018 7:13

You would expect that the appointment of a former Real Madrid manager and Premier League title winner would get West Ham fans' pulses racing. But even David Sullivan appears to have recognised that suspicion rather than anticipation is the prevailing mood at the London Stadium.

"We hope they agree it is an exciting appointment," said Sullivan, somewhat more tentatively than many of his previous boasts. Pellegrini undoubtedly possesses the most impressive CV of the five managers Sullivan and David Gold have appointed, but the owners have certainly been made to pay a premium.

Pellegrini, 64, who since being moved aside by Manchester City has spent the last two years managing Hebei China Fortune in the CSL, reportedly returns to England as one of the Premier League's highest-paid managers.

The Independent suggests it took a £10million-a-year wage packet to tempt the Chilean to East London, while The Sun and The Mirror both report his salary as being closer to £7million. Even taking the lower figure, it puts Pellegrini on a par with Jurgen Klopp and in a higher bracket than Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino.

It is the price Sullivan, Gold and Karren Brady have to pay for running what has apparently become 'the most dysfunctional club in the Premier League'. Rather than being the catalyst for a Champions League push, the London Stadium move has seen the Hammers sink from Europa League qualifiers to relegation candidates amid a series a protests by fans who have long since realised they have been taken for a ride.

Since those protests came to a head in March when the atmosphere at the former Olympic Stadium went from one of frustration straight to poison, the owners have at least offered the impression of contrition. That 3-0 defeat to Burnley and the aggro that ensued could well be the lowest point – the board certainly hope so – but three months on, despite the arrival of the club's highest-paid manager, there remains a gaping, unstable void in the West Ham foundations.

Any manager coming into the club would be smart to seek written assurances over what interference is permissible from above. Since he and Gold took control of the Hammers in 2010, Sullivan has not so much crossed the line but set up camp and moved in his family. Almost literally.

Sullivan is even listed as director of football in the club's accounts and though he denies holding such sway, the evidence suggests he most certainly does. Years after their Premier League rivals saw the benefit of investment in scouting and analytics, both in terms of performance and recruitment, the Hammers have persisted with a far more haphazard approach.

The team was unfit for purpose through the first half of the season while their transfer business has too often reflected the manner in which they conduct it. Their transfer committee consisted of Sullivan, Slaven Bilic and Tony Henry, who between them would rule over players mainly brought to them by agents. Sullivan says Bilic preferred older, proven Premier League players, while he wanted younger talent – "the next Mr Stones, who Everton got for £500,000". The now-departed Henry's preferences are well documented.

Between the hapless trio, there has been no plan, no continuity and no strategy. To David Moyes' credit, he tried to instigate change, despite there being no guarantee over him being around to reap the benefits.

"We've put together some plans," he said in February. "We are going to try to look at it slightly differently. I'm going to be heavily involved in the process, as will be the chairman. I've not seen a process here, so I'm going to try something.

"It's going to come a little bit away from the chairman," he continued. "The chairman is going to try to stand aside a bit from it." Three months later, the chairman stood aside from the door and pushed Moyes through.

Moyes had also identified the need to bridge the gap, or rather offer an added layer of insulation between the manager and the boardroom. "It could be a head of football operations, could be a head of recruitment, could be a director of football."

Sullivan said before Christmas that he was considering such an appointment. "There's one very good one in the Premier League," he told The Guardian in December. "I would seriously think about taking him on in due course and I know he would come because he's approached me."

Whether that man is Eduardo Macia, Leicester's head of recruitment who has been linked with the Hammers, we can only guess. But with Pellegrini targeting "four or five" players this summer, the new manager does not have time to waste while Sullivan clings on to his power.

Pellegrini has worked for an over-zealous boss before in Florentino Perez at Real Madrid. The manager was presented with the finest players – Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso – but they finished his only season at the Bernabeu potless because, as Pellegrini put it: "I didn't have a voice or a vote at Madrid."

"They sign the best players, but not the best players needed in a certain position," he continued. "It's no good having an orchestra with the 10 best guitarists if I don't have a pianist. Real Madrid have the best guitarists, but if I ask them to play the piano they won't be able to do it so well. Perez sold players that I considered important. We didn't win the Champions League because we didn't have a squad properly structured to be able to win it."

Pellegrini will have a say at the London Stadium, but so too in the past have Sullivan's kids. The new manager needs a buffer in place because until a director of football is appointed, he remains too exposed to the circus that has overseen relegation scraps when the publicly stated ambition upon moving home was the top six and "to feel like a big club… not a tinpot club". Pellegrini cannot realistically make inroads on either target until West Ham make an appointment even more crucial than his own.

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West Ham to sell four to raise funds, Byram & Fernandes included
By Josh Challies - May 23, 2018 0
Forever WestHam

West Ham have confirmed the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager and their focus will now shift towards the transfer market. The Hammers have struggled to excel with additions during recent seasons and will hope that the experienced Chilean boss will lead the club to better fortunes. However, with funds restricted, the club are ready to offload a number of players to raise the figures that Pellegrini has to splash in the market. The Times reports West Ham are prepared to offload four players in the transfer market – Sam Byram, Edimilson Fernandes, Jordan Hugill and Andy Carroll. Byram has managed just 247 minutes of Premier League football for the Hammers since signing from Leeds but Fernandes is perhaps a surprise, given he's still just 22 and is highly-regarded.
Meanwhile, Hugill has barely featured since signing from Preston in January, and was reportedly only signed in case the Hammers were relegated, while Carroll fell out of favour during David Moyes' tenure and has struggled with regular injury issues.

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The 4 West Ham players set to thrive under Manuel Pellegrini's attacking philosophy
The Chilean has a reputation for attacking football and three players should feel the benefit of his management
By Sam Inkersole West Ham Correspondent
08:03, 23 MAY 2018

Manuel Pellegrini is West Ham's new manager in an appointment that has gone down very well indeed with the fans and it should be good news for the players as well. The Chilean has penned a three-year deal worth up to £7m a year to take charge at the London Stadium, taking over from David Moyes who left the club last week. It's straight down to business for 64-year-old, who is expected to be handed a transfer warchest to perform a radical overhaul of a squad that narrowly escaped relegation from the Premier League last season and has struggled over the past two campaigns. There will be incomings and probably some outgoings too, but what about the players likely to stay that could thrive under the new manager?

Manuel Lanzini

Pellegrini has a superb track record with developing and nurturing creative and attacking midfielders and that is something Lanzini should absolutely thrive on.
The Chilean worked wonders with the likes of David Silva at Man City, Isco at Malaga, Samir Nasri at City and Juan Roman Riquelme at Villarreal. Lanzini is the creative force of West Ham and if he plays well, the team plays well. The Argentine had a strong end to the 2017/18 campaign after struggling with injuries.
Discussions over a new contract for Lanzini to bring him in line with the loikes of Michail Antonio, Javier Hernandez and others have yet to get underway but the appointment of his fellow South American could hopefully accelerate those. Pellegrini's tactics like to play the ball through midfield, allowing someone like Lanzini to get a lot of touches of the ball to be creative and do damamge. His assist numbers should rocket under the Chilean.

Michail Antonio

Providing he can get back fit and stay fit, Antonio should be a player to benefit from the appointment of Pellegrini. Antonio is probably the quickest player in the Hammers ranks alongside Arthur Masuaku and the attacking style of the Chilean also relies on pacy wingers to deliver crosses into the box, Jesus Navas at Man City benefited from Pellegrini. With Manuel Lanzini ideally being the creative fulcrum of the team, he can get the ball in the pocket between midfield and defence and look to the wings for his widemen before continuing a run into the box. Pellegrini often plays with a rigid midfield four but they are pressed high up the pitch, not sitting back deep and narrow like we saw the three-man midfield do under David Moyes.

Arthur Masuaku

Same as with Antonio, the quick wide man should flourish under Pellegrini and don't be surprised to him pushed into a left midfield role rather than a left back or left wing-back position. One thing Masuaku will certainly have to work on is his crossing and delivery from wide areas, it's too haphazard. He is one of the most skillful players in the squad, electric with the ball at his feet and has the ability to beat a defender with ease. In a midfield four, Masuaku will be needed to ensure width is always there on the left hand side, we have often seen him hug the touchline under Moyes and will need to do the same with Pellegrini. The prospect of Masuaku improving his delivery with low balls into the box for a waiting poacher is quite tantalising. Speaking of which...

Javier Hernandez

The Mexican striker didn't get much of a look in last season, particularly when Moyes was in charge but he should be handed a new lease of life under Pellegrini.
Much like Lanzini, the appointment of a fellow South American should be ideal for Chicharito, who will no doubt have a chip on his shoulder next season. Pacy wingers who can deliver low into the box with quality should be absolutely ideal for Hernandez, who obviously is at his best in the 18-yard box. Running in behind as well with Lanzini dropping dimes to him in behind the defence is a mouthwatering prospect. Javier Hernandez is world class when he is played to his strengths and Pellegrini's tactics really do suit him down to the ground.

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Redknapp: Duo would have been better than new West Ham boss Pellegrini
HITC
Will Butcher

West Ham have appointed Manuel Pellegrini as David Moyes' successor. Former West Ham United manager Harry Redknapp has told BBC Sport, as quoted by the Evening Standard, that he believes the Hammers should have appointed one of two other managers instead of Manuel Pellegrini. Pellegrini, 64, was appointed as Hammers boss on a three-year deal earlier this week, after the club decided not to offer David Moyes a new deal at the London Stadium. Plenty of names were linked with a move to east London, including the likes of Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez, Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca and many more. However, the Hammers opted to go with former Manchester City boss Pellegrini, but Redknapp reckons the club should have considered Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe or Burnley gaffer Sean Dyche. "I don't see it as an exciting appointment, I've got to be honest," Redknapp said. "West Ham's a fantastic club, but see if they can poach Eddie Howe or Sean Dyche. "There's some great young managers in the country who, if given the opportunity, could do the job, but they don't get the opportunities."

Dyche excelled at Turf Moor with Burnley this season, pushing himself into contention as manager of the season by guiding the Clarets into seventh place, qualifying for the Europa League. Meanwhile, Howe continues to keep Bournemouth afloat in the Premier League, finishing in a respectable 12th place with 44 points from their 38 top-tier matches. However, the Hammers have opted to go with experience, plucking Pellegrini from Chinese Super League outfit Hebei China Fortune.

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Pellegrini to land Cousillas a first West Ham addition
By Josh Challies - May 23, 2018 0
WestHamWorld.co.uk

West Ham are set to enter a new era following the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini on a three-year deal at the London Stadium. The former Manchester City boss has plenty of work ahead of him this summer to rebuild his side and has reportedly decided on his first addition, bringing in someone to join the backroom staff.
The Daily Express states Pellegrini will bring in Ruben Cousillas as his assistant with the Hammers, reuniting with a loyal colleague from his experienced career.
Pellegrini has worked alongside Cousillas at River Plate, Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga – and the pair are set to join together again at the London Stadium.
Cousillas will join as Pellegrini's first appointment to the backroom team and others are likely to follow in the coming weeks, while the club will also focus their attention on the transfer market.
The Hammers are reportedly eyeing a new central defender, central midfielder, striker and goalkeeper in the summer window to improve their ranks.

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PELLEGRINI GOALKEEPING CONUNDRUM, COULD BE SOLVED WITH TROTTFeatured Image
Date: 23rd May 2018 at 7:00am
Written by: Laura OLeary
ForeverWestHam

One of the first West Ham conundrums Manuel Pellegrini must solve is the club's goalkeeping issues that surfaced in the latest campaign, and the solution could already be at the club. The former Manchester City manager was confirmed to be David Moyes' successor of the club on Tuesday morning, via the Hammers' official Twitter account, and there's lot of problems for him to fix this summer ahead of the new season. One of these problems is the club's goalkeeping situation as neither Joe Hart or Adrian covered themselves in glory on a regular basis in the last campaign. In fact the pair contributed to the club conceding 68 goals in 38 league games and both should suffer the consequences this season. While Hart isn't set to be at the London Stadium for the next campaign, as he was only on loan for one season from Man City, the veteran goalkeeper will no doubt be punished by finding it difficult to get a new club. Adrian, however, looks like staying around and while he has been impressive in the past, letting 31 goals go flying past him in 22 games last season, proved that the 31-year-old isn't the right solution or a long-term fix. Therefore it seems likely that Pellegrini will dive into the transfer market to sign a new goalkeeper, however he shouldn't be so quick to, as the Hammers have a hidden gem of keeper in the form of Nathan Trott. The 19-year-old, who is contracted to the club until 2020 according to their official site, has never been afforded a first-team opportunity despite his glowing reputation proceeding him. Trott has featured for England's U-20s and is regarded as having a lot of potential, as the shot-stopper is clearly among his country's best for his age. The teenage gem has regularly featured for the Hammers' set-up, playing 21 times for the U-23s in the Premier League 2 in the latest campaign, and it shouldn't be assumed that he might not be ready. The promising talent tweeted, via his personal Twitter account, shortly after the experienced manager was confirmed as the Hammers' new boss with a simply tweet using a fingers crossed emoiji, implying that he perhaps believes he's ready for his side's first-team.

At the very least the young promising goalkeeper is hopeful for a chance and why shouldn't Pellegrini hand him one? The veteran manager has all of pre-season to test the goalkeeper out and he will be pleasantly surprise with what he sees, and it would be a quicker solution to his goalkeeping conundrum if the solution was already at the club. Therefore even though Trott has never previously featured for West Ham's senior team, unleashing the unseen gem, who is hoping for a chance based on his social media post, would swiftly see Pellegrini's goalkeeping issues at the club be no more.

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Could Eduardo Macia appointment see Fernando Torres join West Ham?
HITC
Danny Owen

Eduardo Macia brought Fernando Torres to Premier League giants Liverpool from Atletico Madrid and now he is set to work with Pellegrini at West Ham United.
Manuel Pellegrini has signed a three-year deal to become the new West Ham United manager and the Chilean is not waiting around to get his backroom staff in place. Sky Italia reports that his former Malaga midfielder Enzo Maresca is set to be announced as the Hammers' assistant coach, while Football London has stated that Pellegrini wants Eduardo Macia to follow him to the London Stadium in a director of football role. Macia is an experienced talent-spotter who is currently working at Leicester City. But one signing he made during his time with Liverpool is what he is perhaps best known for in England – the £20 million deal for Atletico Madrid star Fernando Torres back in 2007. According to Marca, Macia was responsible for convincing Torres to leave his boyhood club; something many teams before had tried and failed to do. But, 11 years on, what are the chances of Macia making contact with El Nino again? Torres will be a very high-profile free agent this summer with his second spell at Atletico Madrid coming to an end in dream fashion, via a Europa League title and two goals on his farewell appearance against Eibar in La Liga. Clearly, Torres has still got that touch of class, even if the speed and relentless goal-scoring of his Anfield peak have been left in the past. So, even on a free, he would be a real big-name signing for a West Ham side who could do with a striker, particularly with Pellegrini stressing his commitment to attacking football upon his official unveiling. Can Macia work his magic again?

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Report: West Ham to give Pellegrini £75m to spend; Tarkowski wanted
HITC
Jordan Harris

West Ham United are reportedly planning to back new manager Manuel Pellegrini with plenty of funds to spend. According to a report from the Daily Mirror, West Ham are planning to back Manuel Pellegrini with a £75 million transfer kitty this summer, with Burnley defender James Tarkowski one of the men that the new Hammers boss is planning to target during the upcoming window. Pellegrini's appointment as David Moyes' successor was confirmed this week, and the Irons hierarchy appear to be determined to ensure that they find themselves in nothing like the trouble that Moyes eventually led them away from this past season.
The Mirror reports that West Ham are expected to hand Pellegrini £75 million to spend, with the Hammers planning to sell Jordan Hugill this summer, while Michail Antonio and Winston Reid could also depart during the coming months. The Mirror hints that strengthening the centre-back options appears to be an important part of Pellegrini's plans as both Jamaal Lascelles of Newcastle and Tarkowski are on the club's radar after both impressed for their respective sides this past year.
Like many of the Burnley squad, Tarkowski probably went into this past campaign not getting the credit he deserved. But after helping the Clarets secure European football for next season - an achievement that has led to the centre-back making his England debut and earning a place on Gareth Southgate's standby list for the World Cup - it appears that Burnley's rivals are starting to sit up and take notice. He would arguably be a fantastic addition to West Ham's options this summer, but with Burnley securing a massive fee from Everton for Michael Keane last summer, the Hammers should perhaps not expect the Clarets to make it easy for Pellegrini to bag Tarkowski's signature, especially now that Sean Dyche needs to put together a squad that can also manage a Europa League campaign.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Who is Eduardo Macia? The director of football who could change West Ham with Manuel Pellegrini
The Hammers are reportedly lining up a summer raid for the Leicester City man
By Sam Inkersole West Ham Correspondent
08:53, 23 MAY 2018

West Ham have announced Manuel Pellegrini as their fifth manager in eight years. But there will be more change than just a new manager arriving at the club this summer as Hammers co-owner David Sullivan is keen to appoint a director of football to work alongside the Chilean and help transform the club after two seasons of struggle in the Premier League. The name heavily mentioned with taking of a director of football role to help out Sullivan with the day-to-day running of the club and to have a hand in transfer strategy is Eduardo Macia, who is currently at Leicester City in a recruitment chief role. football.london understands that Pellegrini has indicated to Sullivan that he wants Macia to join him in the capital and that the co-chairman has agreed to pursue the Spaniard and endeavour to bring him to the capital.
Sullivan said earlier this year that he will step back from the transfer side of the operation after failed attempts to bring in William Carvalho and Leander Dendoncker, both moves collapsed in a very public way. Sullivan also fired disgraced former head of recruitment Tony Henry after alleged racist remarks regarding African players back in February. But what do we know about Macia? Here's everything you need to know about the man who, along with Pellegrini, could spark the start of a revolution at West Ham.

Who is he?

Eduardo Macia is a retired footballer who has been the Head of Senior Player Recruitment at Leicester City since September 2016. The Foxes moved for the 43-year-old to strengthen their recruitment department after the exit of Steve Walsh, who joined Everton as director of football in July 2016.

Which clubs has he worked with in the past?

Quite a few. Starting out in La Liga as a scout for Valencia he held a position there for a year before following Rafa Benitez to Liverpool where he was the chief scout until December 2010. Following a spell in England, Macia then became the technical director at Olympiacos and then held a similar position with Serie A outfit Fiorentina. He would have another chief scouting role with Viola before leaving in 2015 and then became the director of football at Real Betis, only to leave a year later for a position with the Foxes.

What's been said about him?

Prior to joining City from Sevilla last summer, Vicente Iborra explained the key role Eduardo Macia played. "Eduardo Macia convinced me. He came to find me with his aides and made me feel important within their project," the midfielder said, as reported by Sport Witness. "He's been at Valencia, Betis, Fiorentina and Benitez's Liverpool, and someone important who knows English football well."

What players has he been credited with for signing?

Do the names Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Dirk Kuyt or Raheem Sterling ring a bell? Well, Macia is said to be responsible for those signings during his time at Liverpool. While at Fiorentina he signed over 20 players including ex-Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Stefan Savic, Giuseppe Rossi and Alberto Aquilani. Furthermore, he also oversaw the arrivals of talented players such as German Pezzella and Petros at Betis as well as the return of the legendary Joaquin.

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