In today’s West Ham United roundup, we take a look at what news has grabbed the headlines surrounding the club. Jimmy Bullard speaks on how excited he is about this current team, Harry Redknapp believes the club can challenge the top six, and reports have emerged claiming West Ham were amongst big names negotiating a deal with new wonderkid on the block, Ansu Fati.
‘I’m really excited’, says Bullard
Report: Speaking to Ian Abrahams on his Instagram account, former West Ham man Bullard said: “I’m really excited, I haven’t been this excited about being a West Ham fan in a long time, you know what we’ve been like.
“I like the boy upfront (Sebastian Haller), really good. Anderson’s been on fire. I like it, I like the way we look. I’m excited as a West Ham fan and we don’t often say that.
Bullard, who made 90 appearances in the Premier League, was also questioned on whether or not he believes Declan Rice will depart at the end of the season. He said: “there’s always the case of that, I just hope we can keep our better players, we always let them go.”
Verdict: It’s unsurprising to see Bullard so pleased and excited about the future of West Ham this season. The Hammers are unbeaten since the 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City on the opening weekend, picking up eight points from five games ever since with summer signing Haller netting three times so far.
Furthermore, with Manuel Pellegrini’s proven experience of winning domestic titles in England, as he did with Manchester City, the Hammers have an established manager at the helm who likes to play expansive football. Just what the Irons ordered!
Redknapp believes the club can battle the top six
Report: Former Hammers manager Harry Redknapp told talkSPORT: “I like the look of West Ham, I think West Ham will certainly be top eight this year and if anyone’s getting to the top six it will be them or Leicester.
“They’re the two teams that could knock one of the big six out this year. They look very good. I like what I’ve seen from them so far – I have not seen them live yet but I’ve watched every one of their matches on the box. They have some great forwards and look really exciting.”
Verdict: It seems that during the early doors in this Premier League season both Leicester City and West Ham are making early strides to challenging the ‘Big Six’, with both clubs sat on eight points, the same as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Getting into the top six is going to be a struggle for any team in the current climate of the league. Last season, both the Foxes and West Ham finished 14 points off sixth-placed Man United, whilst Wolverhampton Wanderers closed the gap to nine.
But Chelsea and United both have arguably weaker sides than last season – Chelsea lost Eden Hazard while United sold Romelu Lukaku – whereas West Ham have addressed their defensive fragility, managing two clean sheets already compared to last term’s total of seven. Add to that the qualities of Haller, Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini and it could be a fine season at the London Stadium.
West Ham went in for Fati
Report: According to Mundo Deportivo, West Ham were making strides to sign Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati in the summer. The report states that West Ham entered negotiations with Fati’s family and his agent, but it was because of Barcelona legend José Mari Bakero that the 16-year-old stayed at the Nou Camp, after the former player convinced him to stay.
Verdict: Fati has exploded onto the scene this season after being given his chance following injuries to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during the early stages of the new campaign. Fati became Barcelona’s youngest scorer in La Liga history after bagging on his debut at 16 years and 304 days old. The La Masia product then matched this by scoring on his first start for the club just days later.
It would have been a truly remarkable signing had the Hammers got it over the line, however, it seems Fati’s heart is set on Barcelona for the time being.