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Football Manager 2024 predicts how the January transfer window could play out for West Ham United.
West Ham United experienced a hectic summer transfer window as they prepared for Julen Lopetegui’s first season in charge at the London Stadium.
There were a number of eye-catching deals as Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug was secured in a £22m deal and both Max Kilman and Crysencio Summerville joined from Wolves and Leeds United respectively. Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was signed in a deal believed to be worth around £14m and Ligue 1 duo Carlos Soler and Jean-Clair Todibo both agreed to spend the season on loan at the London Stadium.
It would be safe to say there have been mixed fortunes experienced by the latest recruits to the Hammers squad during the first half of the season - but who could be the next additions to Lopetegui’s ranks? We fired up Football Manager 2024, used the editor to update the Hammers squad to its current state and allowed the world’s most popular managerial simulation to predict how January could play out.
Outgoings
Three experienced players were allowed to leave the London Stadium as they entered the final six months of their current deals. Two remained in the Premier League as Aaron Cresswell joined Bournemouth and Michail Antonio agreed to join Brentford in deals that raked in just £3m in fees.
For goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, Saudi Arabia was his next destination as the veteran stopper moved to Damac in a £1m sale. Despite interest in Vladimir Coufal and Danny Ings, both players remained at West Ham and penned new one-year deals. There was also interest in Lucas Paqueta from Arsenal and Juventus and Celtic showed an interest in Tomas Soucek - but both players remained with the club when the transfer window closed for business.
West Ham put four past Ipswich Town last time out.West Ham put four past Ipswich Town last time out.
West Ham put four past Ipswich Town last time out. | Getty Images
Incomings
There were just two incoming deals wrapped up by Lopetegui during the January transfer window and his first move brought a new first choice goalkeeper for the Hammers boss after he secured Leeds United stopper Illan Meslier in a £22m agreement. Strengthening at the other end of the pitch was the next priority for the Hammers boss as former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic was persuaded to return to the Premier League after West Ham agreed a £20m deal with Saudi club Al-Hilal.
One other piece of business was conducted as a pre-contract agreement was reached for Lille and England midfielder Angel Gomes and that means the former Manchester United star will join the Hammers on a free transfer during the summer.
How did the remainder of the season play out?
In all honesty, it was just a bit boring for the Hammers as their FA Cup run came to an end in the fourth round with a 1-0 defeat at Championship club Middlesbrough. The high point of the second half of the season came with a 3-0 win at Liverpool as the Hammers punished their hosts after Virgil Van Dijk was shown a red card inside the opening ten minutes. Mitrovic, Soucek and Max Kilman all found the net at Anfield in what will go down as West Ham’s best result of the season. An 11th placed finish was secured when a season best described as mediocre came to a close.
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