Analysis: Lopetegui Faces Pressure Following Four Last-Minute West Ham Transfers
West Ham Manager Julen Lopetegui Gets the Squad He Desired as Four Out-of-Favor Players Depart on Deadline Day
Julen Lopetegui aimed to clear out several fringe players from his squad, and his wish was fulfilled when the departure of former captain Kurt Zouma was finalized, completing four last-minute exits [whufc.com, 31 August].
On 30 August, James Ward-Prowse and Nayef Aguerd were loaned to Nottingham Forest and Real Sociedad, respectively.
The following day, Maxwel Cornet and Zouma also left on loan. Zouma has since been seen at his new club, Al-Orobah in Saudi Arabia [X, 1 September].
With Lopetegui finalizing his revamped squad, he now faces the challenge of delivering results.
When Lopetegui was appointed in May, he could scarcely have imagined a summer transfer window working out so well for him. By its end, he had assembled a squad entirely of his own making.
However, this presents a double-edged sword for the 58-year-old, as he must now extract the best performance from a team that has seen over £120 million invested in it in recent months.
On Deadline Day, loan deals for Jean-Clair Todibo and PSG’s Carlos Soler were completed, alongside high-profile departures, providing Lopetegui with a squad capable of achieving European qualification.
Ward-Prowse, Aguerd, and Cornet are expected to return after their season-long loans, but Zouma’s loan includes a mandatory buyout clause, signaling the end of his time in East London [Fabrizio Romano, 26 August].
For any manager, moving out what is considered dead weight and replacing it with significant new signings in a single transfer window is ideal.
Now, Lopetegui faces the pressure of delivering results at the London Stadium with his newly assembled squad.
