West Ham United Sets Ambitious Goals for the 2025 Transfer Window
With the aim of making a strong bid for European qualification in the upcoming season, West Ham United is prioritizing their summer transfer strategy in 2025. After a rocky start to this current campaign with more losses than wins—four victories and five defeats—the club acknowledges that achieving their goals this season seems unlikely.
A Much-Needed Win Amid Progress Concerns
The timely away victory against Newcastle United (2-0) on Monday under head coach Julen Lopetegui provided a glimmer of hope. However, despite an investment of approximately £130 million ($164.6m) to welcome nine new players last summer, optimism about potential success has waned considerably. Key newcomers like Guido Rodriguez and Luis Guilherme are still finding their feet in English football, while Niclas Fullkrug faces an uncertain return date following an Achilles injury sustained back in September.
Expected Moves Before January: Selling to Buy
The club has indicated spending will be minimal during the January window unless players currently on the periphery leave first. According to sources from The Athletic, there is already a clear focus on which positions require reinforcement come next year along with some potential targets.
Targeting Forward Positions Despite Significant Expenditure
Even after investing £27 million in Niclas Fullkrug over the summer transfer window, West Ham remains keen on acquiring another forward option before next season kicks off. Fullkrug’s only appearance since his signing was back in August against Manchester City; thus far he hasn’t been able to contribute due to injury issues.
This leaves Michail Antonio and Danny Ings as the primary striking options; at a collective age of 97 years old combined with few young talents behind them necessitates fresh blood entering through recruitment.
Pursuing Fresh Talent From Ligue 1
The technical director Tim Steidten is actively scouting talent primarily within France’s Ligue 1 league and holds particular interest in attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon—a player West Ham has monitored since December last year given his promising stats this season of three goals and three assists across twelve competitive matches.
This isn’t Steidten’s first endeavor into securing French talent; he successfully acquired Jean-Clair Todibo through loan arrangements earlier this season from Nice before making that an obligation-to-buy deal moving forward.
“To foster competition within our squad while ensuring we stay competitive internationally should be our utmost priority,” noted insiders.
Pushing Out Players: Who’s On The Chopping Block?
A number of players have been earmarked for sale including James Ward-Prowse alongside defenders Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma who are currently out on loan at Nottingham Forest and Real Sociedad respectively as well as Maxwel Cornet at Al-Orobah.
Vladimir Coufal also finds himself potentially leaving if contract negotiations stall during January window given it’s his last contractual year without any optional extensions available after that timeframe wraps up soon enough.
$450 million net credits raised just upon every deemed expendable player should reinvestment strategy go according plan!
Laying Down Groundwork For Future Contract Expirations
Some key contracts nearing expiration belong who could become free transfers come June include:
- Danny Ings (32)
- Michail Antonio (34)
- Kurt Zouma (32)
- Aaron Cresswell (34)
- Lukasz Fabianski (39); although his deal holds specific optional eligibility terms ahead!