West Ham’s £100 Million Investment Could Reshape Team with Signings from Arsenal and Manchester United

Julen Lopetegui has assumed leadership at the London Stadium, signing a two-year contract after a year away from coaching following his departure from Wolves at the end of the 2022/23 season. With a distinguished coaching career that includes stints at Sevilla, Porto, Real Madrid, and the Spanish national team, Lopetegui brings substantial experience to West Ham.

Unlike his predecessor David Moyes, who favored a smaller squad, Lopetegui is expected to strengthen the team as he aims to leave his mark on the club. The transfer window has already seen significant activity, with Max Kilman joining from Wolves for £40 million and 18-year-old Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme arriving for £25.5 million. Negotiations are also underway for Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£15 million from Manchester United) and Reiss Nelson (£25 million from Arsenal), indicating further potential additions to the squad.

The potential departure of Danny Ings may prompt West Ham to seek a new striker, although Jarrod Bowen and Alexander Sorloth are also capable of filling the role. With these new acquisitions in mind, talkSPORT.com has analyzed where they might fit into a revamped starting eleven for the upcoming season.

Lopetegui typically employs a 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing possession-based football and utilizing attack-minded full-backs who contribute to both defense and the attack. Alphonse Areola is expected to continue as the first-choice goalkeeper, supported by Emerson Palmieri on the left and potentially Wan-Bissaka on the right in defense.

Central defense is likely to see changes, with Nayef Aguerd possibly departing for Atletico Madrid, paving the way for Max Kilman to partner Kurt Zouma. In midfield, Lopetegui favors a trio consisting of a defensive midfielder, a playmaker, and a box-to-box midfielder. Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez are established options, with Luis Guilherme potentially assuming the box-to-box role under Lopetegui’s guidance. Mohamed Kudus could feature in an attacking midfield role, having impressed in his debut season with eight goals and six assists.

Lopetegui’s tactical approach emphasizes quick passing and midfield control to create opportunities, a style that has seen success throughout his coaching career. West Ham fans will be eager to see how these new signings and tactical adjustments translate on the pitch as they look to build on their achievements from previous seasons under new management.