PELL: FAB DESERVES TO WIN ALL PLAUDITS

London Stadium: 3pm MANUEL PELLEGRINI says Lukasz Fabianski deserves to be West Ham’s player of the year.

But the Hammers boss hopes he’s not even a contender next term.

The goalkeeper (above), 34, was one of the bargains of the season, costing just £7million from Swansea in the summer.

Pellegrini has been delighted with the ex-Arsenal keeper’s contribution, but is annoyed he has had to make so many saves. Fabianski has let in 54 Premier League goals but has prevented plenty of others.

And Pellegrini says his outfield players must make sure he has a quieter time next season if they are to qualify for Europe.

He said: “Lucasz deserves every award that he can receive.

“The price that we brought him here, of course it was a very good one. Would I prefer him not to be so busy next season? I certainly hope we are able to concede less goals. That is one of the reasons why we didn’t improve this season.

“Lukasz has had not only a good season playing good games but he has also had a ‘regular’ season - the same performance in every game. Every player can RALPH HASENHUTTL has urged the Southampton board to splash the cash to avoid another relegation battle next season.

Hasenhuttl (right) has worked wonders to save the Saints from the drop despite not signing anyone in January.

However, the Austrian is expecting a much busier transfer window in the summer.

He said: “Everybody make a mistake but he hasn’t made too many.”

The Hammers cannot finish any higher than eighth and will probably have to win both remaining games even to get into the top half.

Pellegrini said: “For me it has been a quiet season. If we win the next two games then of course it will be better but all of us must demand more of ourselves and improve this club.

“Maybe this season has been OK, we had a lot of new players, we had too many injuries but we have been always around the middle to top of the table so it is not a bad season.”

Many Hammers fans have opted to watch the women’s team against Manchester City in today’s Women’s FA Cup final instead of the Saints clash after the Premier League rejected the club’s request to move the Southampton match to a lunchtime kick-off.

Nv

knows we will spend money. How much depends on what we get for the players we sell. “Although we are following the Southampton way it is not only possible to be successful this way and we have to sign players.” Hasenhuttl plans to offload a host of players with striker Charlie Austin and defenders Cedric Soares and Jack Stephens expected to depart.