Premier League 2023-24 preview No 19: West Ham
Guardian writers’ predicted position: 11th (NB: this is not necessarily Jacob Steinberg’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 14th
Prospects
A summer of indecision has left West Ham struggling to build on their dramatic triumph over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final. Declan Rice has gone, sold to Arsenal for £105m, and attempts to replace the midfielder have been complicated by the uneasy relationship between David Moyes and Tim Steidten, who was appointed as the technical director last month.
Formerly at Bayer Leverkusen, Steidten has been looking in Europe for players. Moyes wants players with Premier League experience, though, and has struggled to convince West Ham to meet Southampton’s asking price for the England midfielder James Ward-Prowse. With the tension rising, it is just as well that West Ham made their first summer signing this week, strengthening in defensive midfield with the addition of Edson Álvarez from Ajax.
It was time to act. West Ham were abject during a 4-0 friendly defeat to Leverkusen last weekend and, for all their success in Europe under Moyes, their poor domestic form cannot be overlooked. They lost 20 league games en route to finishing 14th last season and it will not be easy for them to recover from losing Rice.
Yet Moyes is used to being written off. He was close to the sack on several occasions last season and ended the season clutching silverware. There is disquiet over his style of play within the dressing room but nobody will forget Moyes’s charge down the touchline in Prague after Jarrod Bowen’s lastminute winner against Fiorentina. It should not all be doom and gloom. West Ham are in the Europa League again and more signings will help them move on from a tricky pre-season.
The manager
David Moyes went into the Conference League final against Fiorentina with uncertainty hanging over his future. Defeat in Prague may well have led to West Ham looking for a new manager and a change should not be ruled out if they start the season slowly. Moyes, though, will be full of belief after collecting the first major trophy of his managerial career. He came close to the sack on several occasions last season and yet ended the campaign on a high. However complaints over his style of football have not gone away and Moyes, who has seen two members of his backroom team depart this summer, could be in trouble if West Ham’s transfer strategy backfires again.
Leading the shirt sales
Lucas Paquetá became West Ham’s record signing when he joined for £51m from Lyon in the summer of 2022 and the Brazil midfielder did not let his head drop after a slow start to life in England. The 25-year-old knuckled down, adjusted to the pace of the Premier League and offered plenty of creativity during the second half of last season. A favourite with supporters, it was Paquetá who provided the assist for West Ham’s winner in the Conference League final. It was a decisive moment of quality and West Ham will hope that Paquetá, who scored five goals in all competitions last season, is ready to take on more responsibility following Rice’s departure.
Folk hero
The pass came from Paquetá and the finish came from Jarrod Bowen. The winger knew how to pick his moment. Bowen struggled at the start of last season and his indifferent form dashed his hopes of being included in England’s World Cup squad. However, he bounced back and was far more effective after Christmas. Bowen, who was an excellent signing from Hull City three years ago, returned to his driving best on the right flank and he was nerveless when he ran through against
Fiorentina. The 26-year-old confidently slipped the ball past Pietro Terracciano and West Ham were champions. Bowen had made himself an instant club legend.
One to watch
There is plenty of optimism about West Ham’s kids after their triumph over Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup final. Levi Laing, Dan Chesters and Freddie Potts have had opportunities during pre-season and Moyes believes that Divin Mubama could become an important member of the first team. Mubama, an 18-year-old striker, scored once in six appearances last season and he has a chance of competing with Michail Antonio and Danny Ings for a place in West Ham’s attack. “Divin makes us different,” Moyes says. “He makes us a completely different side with his running, his pressure and the work he does off the ball.”