West Ham United will play in the second tier of English football this season after dropping out of the Premier League for the first time in 14 years.
Unlike last time, the landscape is a lot more difficult for the Hammers, with the club needing to raise £150 million this summer. Player sales are expected, with the majority of big names expected to leave. Nuno Espirito Santo may have signed on for one more year, but who will remain on the opening day is anyone’s guess.
To rebuild a squad at any level is difficult, but to do so when selling is a priority makes it all the more difficult. This is why West Ham have to look into their own ranks first, and not at the flashy names, but to their youth and those who are yet to be discovered and ready to make a name for themselves at the London Stadium.
West Ham must build around Mohamadou Kante
Mohamdou Kante is a name expected to stay at West Ham this summer, and Irons need to make him a focal point this season. The 20-year-old made 14 appearances this season and yet looked right at home in the Irons team
Billed as the long-term replacement to Tomas Soucek, now is the time to build around the young Frenchman. With the likes of Freddie Potts staying, Nuno and co can intertwine the pair with Soucek and an attacking midfielder that can truly rejuvenate this West Ham side.
In a Hammers shirt so far, Kante has looked like a truly impactful player and that is at the Premier League level. Whilst, statistically he is yet to hit his numbers, to the trained eye there is a serious player their that should become something special with a good run in the Championship.
Who joins Kante in West Ham’s midfield?
There is yet hope that Soucek will remain at West Ham this season, meaning it is likely that he could partner Kante depending on how Nuno wants to play this season. If Soucek does remain, with more games likely, the two will interchange, Kante playing more of the two.
Alongside him could be Potts, but the Hammers could do with another attacking option in the middle of the park. That is something Nuno and his staff have to find. Find their central attacking midfielder that knows the Championship and the middle of the team could be one of the best in the division.
