Shortly after being introduced as the new manager of West Ham United, Manuel Pellegrini announced that he was looking to bring in "four or five" new players to 'freshen' the squad. The arrival of Ryan Fredericks from Fulham on a free transfer was quickly followed by the arrivals of Yarmolenko, Diop, Wilshere, Balbuena, Fabianski and club record signing Felipe Anderson.
With the Premier League transfer window closing on the 9th of August there will be a flurry of activity regarding players arriving at 'cash rich' predominately English clubs, however the European window doesn't close until the 31st of August which means that Premier league teams are still able to sell players to non UK based teams until that window closes but they will be unable to buy.
West Ham United were delighted to confirm the signing of young Portuguese forward Xande Silva earlier today, the 21 year-old who has represented his country at every level from U15 to U20 arrives on an three year contract from Primeira Liga side Vitoria de Guimaraes for an undisclosed fee. Silva is Manuel Pellegrini's eight signing so far since arriving at the London Stadium, however Silva is seen as 'one for the future' and will join up with the U - 23's initially.
To all accounts and purposes Cheikhou Kouyaté seems to be well and truly on his way out of the London Stadium with Selhurst Park the destination, Palace will pay a fee of around £10 Million for the Senegal midfielder who has been at West Ham four years. It was believed that Hammers would have preferred to sell Kouyaté to a european club, but such is the financial might of the Premier League that other than top four sides there are few in europe that can afford £10 Million for a good, but not spectacular, player.
West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini is insisting he is not finished in the transfer market yet and Hugo Schekter his new players 'minder' is on red alert to deal with any more new additions. Schekter is the man with a plan when it comes to settling in new players, and he has been rather busy of late!
West Ham: Adrian, Zabaleta, Diop, Balbuena, Masuaku, Rice, Noble (c), Wilshere, Snodgrass, Antonio, Arnautovic. Subs: Fabianski, Ogbonna, Fredericks, Cullen, Obiang, Martinez, Hernandez
There have been many conflicting reports regarding where Robert Snodgrass will be playing his football this season, the former Leeds United and Norwich City winger made 41 starts and two substitute appearances in the Championship for Villa last season, scoring seven goals and providing 14 assists in the process. Had Aston Villa won their play off final against Fulham Snodgrass would definitely have joined them on a permanent transfer, however due to losing out the club have had to 'cut their cloth' accordingly.
Ipswich: Bialkowski, Spence, Woolfenden, Chambers (c), Knusden, Downes, Dozzell, Nydam, Edwards, Sears, Harrison. Subs: Gerken, Chalobah, Waghorn, Lankester, Ward, Roberts, Clements, Emmanuel, Kenlock.
West Ham: Fabianski, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Masuaku, Obiang, Kouyate, Wilshere, Yarmolenko, Anderson, Arnoutovic (c). Subs: Adrian, Zabaleta, Diop, Rice, Noble, Haksabanovic, Cullen, Martinez, Snodgrass.
First of all, fairplay to Aston Villa AFC for being able to stream a 'live' pre-season friendly involving West Ham United where it was actually possible to actually view the stream instead of the frankly quite suspicious subliminal whirling white wheel that is usually associated with 'free to air' Hammers' games.
Adrian, Zabaleta, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice, Noble (c) Wilshere, Antonio, Anderson, Arnoutovic. Subs: Trott, Byram, Diop, Fredericks, Cullen, Obiang, Hakserbanovic, Snodgrass, Martinez.