West Ham sign Liverpool star and £18m ex Millwall defender in starting XI if transfer rumours come true

All of a sudden, the West Ham transfer window is threatening to burst into life. The Hammers have had to sell to buy this summer and, with £55 million in the kitty from the Mohammed Kudus sale, that could now happen.

The winger’s departure split opinion at the London Stadium. The Ghana international had proven that he can be a gamechanger but ultimately lacked consistency with the club believing his transfer fee could be used to improve multiple areas of the squad.

That’s already been the case with £19 million spent on a new wing back. Reinforcements in defence, midfield and up front are surely still to come as LondonWorld looks at a possible West Ham starting XI for next season, should transfer rumours come true.

West Ham starting XI if transfer rumours are true

Goalkeeper: Zion Suzuki

Centre-backs: Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, Charlie Cresswell

With Lukasz Fabianski having left the club as a free agent, a new goalkeeper seems guaranteed to come in and at least challenge Alphonse Areola, if not take the number one spot. West Ham Way reported earlier this month that the Hammers are in ‘advanced talks’ over a move for highly rated Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

Max Kilman improved as the season went on after his £40 million switch from Wolves and the loan of Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice has been made permanent. Former Leeds United and Millwall defender Charlie Cresswell could join that pair at centre-back, with an £18 million transfer for the Toulouse star said to be a ‘real possibility’.

Full-backs: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was one of few real positives at the London Stadium last season. It’ll be exciting to see how he develops in that wing back role with plenty of liberty to influence attacking moves.

He’s set to be joined on the other flank by El Hadji Malick Diouf with West Ham confirming a transfer for the £19 million Slavia Prague man this week, in an exciting coup for the club.

West Ham ‘frontrunners’ for former Aston Villa man

Midfielders: James Ward-Prowse, Harvey Elliot, Douglas Luiz

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Andrea Pinamonti

Potter must breathe new life into midfield. West Ham lacked bite in the centre of the park last term and Carlos Soler has returned to Paris Saint-Germain following the expiry of his loan spell. Liverpool star Harvey Elliot has emerged as a transfer priority with La Gazzetta dello Sport naming West Ham as leading contenders to sign Juventus bulldog Douglas Luiz.

Jarrod Bowen cannot be burdened with the goalscoring load in the same way next season. West Ham fans didn’t get a proper look at Niclas Fullkrug with his injury problems but, with Evan Ferguson’s loan ending, a new arrival seems inevitable. The Standard claims that could be Sassuolo bagsman Andrea Pinamonti, who scored 11 goals in all competitions on loan at Genoa last term.

In other news, West Ham deliver fresh transfer blow to Portsmouth and Bristol City.