Manuel Pellegrini and Mario Husillos's proposed wholesale changes to the Hammers squad included a goal keeper, a right back/left back, a 'robust' midfielder and a couple of strikers. With regards to the back up keeper role, a bit like London Buses, not one but two have arrived in a very short space of time.

West Ham have signed David Martin, son of Hammers legend Alvin, from Millwall, the 33-year-old joins on a free transfer. Martin rejected a new contract offer from Millwall and has instead agreed a two-year deal with the Hammers.

Rarely does a Hammers transfer target had such an apt name, as the club are closing in on signing Greece midfielder Kostas Fortounis from Olympiakos. The 26 year old can play as a centre back or in midfield and stands 6'2" tall, so he won't get intimidated. The price being talked about is around £16 Million, not cheap but relatively inexpensive in today's insanely inflated market, so he won't 'cost a fortune'!
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Hammers have neatly arranged a 'spanish take over' as back up between the sticks, Roberto, 33, will join them on a two-year contract on July 1, once his deal with La Liga club Espanyol expires, he will replace Adrian San Miguel. Many, many Hammers fans will be sad to see Adrian leave the club, and rightly so, he was a stalwart as custodian but was usurped by Lukasz Fabianski.

Hammers manager Manuel Pellgrini was forthright in his opinion when asked whether Declan Rice would be at the club when next season begins, he was quoted as saying that if a really substantial offer came in for the young West Ham star it would be his duty to put the terms to the club's hierarchy for consideration. Obviously the backlash from such a deal would be massive, but if the major rebuilding programme is to continue, serious funds need to be generated, and that isn't just a case of the chairmen dipping in to their pockets, FFP saw to that (probably much to their relief).

West Ham United have officially confirmed the departures of Andy Carroll, Adrian San Miguel and Samir Nasri, they join midfielders Moses Makasi and Noha Sylvestre and defenders Vashon Neufville and Josh Pask who will also depart, as will scholars Mason Barrett, Kevin Dalipi, Jay Mingi and Odysseas Spyridis.

'Two Up Top, Two In The Middle, Two At The Back' seems like a pretty simple Barclays Premier League manager's shopping list, a mighty expensive one though! Given current transfer prices those six positions could cost upwards of £150-200 Million to fill.

Perhaps a little more attention to impending rule changes might help fans understand West Ham United's transfer activity, or the lack of it. Manuel Pellegrini has told Sky Sports he has a dilemma over satisfying the homegrown player quota which could shape his transfer plans.

Danny Welbeck is leaving Arsenal at the end of the season when his contract expires and is available on a free transfer in a matter of days, the England striker has endured 'Carroll/Wilshere'sque luck with injuries during his time in north London, and Arsenal have now decided to cut their losses and let him go.

With the transfer gossip in overdrive West Ham United have been linked with just about every player that has a pulse! So probably the best way to sort the wheat from the chaff is by eliminating those players linked with a move to the London Stadium as and when their transfers are confirmed to other clubs.

Xherdan Shaqiri was available for a £13.5 Million transfer fee following Stoke City's relegation, however he didn't interest Manuel Pellegrini, he eventually signed for Liverpool where he initially fared well and looked a real bargain, but his waste line went up as his confidence level went down, he ended the season having only scored 6 times with 5 assists to his credit in 30 appearances.