For 2025, West Ham United want to prioritise the summer window so they can be in a position to mount a serious challenge for European qualification next season.
The club are unlikely to achieve that target this season, given their underwhelming start to the campaign. Head coach Julen Lopetegui masterminded a much-needed 2-0 away win over Newcastle United on Monday. But West Ham have endured more losses (five) than wins (four) in the league.
In the summer there was renewed optimism about what could be achieved, following an expenditure of £130million ($164.6m) on nine players. But expectations have cooled — Guido Rodriguez and Luis Guilherme are still adjusting to the league, while Niclas Fullkrug has been sidelined since September with an Achilles tendon injury.
Internally, the club have conceded they are unlikely to spend in January. Potential arrivals are contingent on fringe players departing. But The Athletic can reveal the positions West Ham are keen to strengthen next year, potential targets and more.
What positions will they be looking at in 2025?
Despite the £27million summer arrival of Niclas Fullkrug, West Ham remain in the market for a forward. Fullkrug’s last appearance was the defeat to Manchester City in August. A return date for the 31-year-old remains unclear.
He is one of three forward options alongside Michail Antonio and Danny Ings. Their combined age is 97 — necessitating an addition.
Are there any players they are already looking at?
Tim Steidten, the technical director, has been scouting prospects in Ligue 1. Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki is among the targets viewed favourably. Cherki has been on West Ham’s radar since December 2023. The 21-year-old’s contract expires in the summer of 2026. This season he has scored three goals and registered three assists in 12 appearances in all competitions.
It is not the first time Steidten has been keen to recruit talent from Ligue 1. Jean-Clair Todibo joined from Nice on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy in August. As mentioned previously, in the summer of 2023 Steidten favoured signing Youssouf Fofana from Monaco. The midfielder has since joined AC Milan, but the board backed former manager David Moyes’ push for James Ward-Prowse.
Who will they be looking to sell?
Ward-Prowse, Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Maxwel Cornet are available for sale. The quartet are on season-long loans at Nottingham Forest, Real Sociedad, Al-Orobah and Southampton respectively. Vladimir Coufal could depart in January if both parties fail to reach an agreement over a contract extension. The right-back is in the final year of his deal, which does not have a one-year option.
West Ham are adamant Lucas Paqueta is not for sale. The Brazil international remains under investigation by the Football Association having been charged with alleged betting breaches. Paqueta denies the charge. In the summer, boyhood club Flamengo had a bid rejected for the midfielder.
Star player Mohammed Kudus remains a sought-after talent. The attacker has an £85million release clause — applicable to other Premier League clubs — which expired on July 10 and will not be active again until the end of 2024-25. Kudus’s representatives received enquiries about his availability last summer, but no formal offers were made.
Steidten and Lopetegui convinced Andy Irving to stay, despite the midfielder having interest from Celtic, St Pauli and Sturm Graz in the week leading up to deadline day. But this season he has only played 36 minutes in the league. His future will be reviewed in the summer.
Which players’ contracts are expiring?
Ings, 32, Antonio, 34, Coufal, 32, Lukasz Fabianski, 39 and Aaron Cresswell, 34. A one-year option in Fabianski’s contract can be exercised, but Cresswell, Ings and Antonio are expected to leave.
Cresswell joined from Ipswich Town in the summer of 2014. The left-back has made more than 350 appearances in his 10-year spell at West Ham but is not expected to receive a testimonial. Ings joined for £12million in January 2023 from Aston Villa, but has struggled with regular game time.
In the summer, the club rejected a £500,000 from Brazilian side Gremio for Antonio. The Jamaica international is West Ham’s all-time Premier League goalscorer (68). European clubs have enquired about Coufal’s availability but West Ham hope to engage in contract talks in the coming weeks.
Who will make the key decisions over the two windows?
Mainly Steidten and majority shareholder David Sullivan. Lopetegui pushed for the signings of Maximilian Kilman, Rodriguez and Carlos Soler. But it was Steidten who identified and signed Fullkrug, Todibo and Luis Guilherme, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Crysencio Summerville were previously on West Ham’s radar.
The recruitment team primarily includes Steidten, his brother and head of international scouting Moritz, head of technical scouting and analysis Maximilian Hahn, sporting director Mark Noble, European scout Georges Santos, first team scout Adam Clarke and first team recruitment analyst Dylan Curnell.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
