West Ham United endured a disappointing 2017/18 campaign in which they came far too close to flirting with relegation at times, and they now need a strong transfer window under new boss Manuel Pellegrini in order to ensure they improve significantly and aim for a top-half finish minimum next term.

The Chilean, who wants a £45m attacker who would ensure fans forget about Manuel Lanzini’s injury blow, will be keen to bring the feel-good factor back to the London Stadium that often dwindled towards the end of David Moyes’ reign, and that could include undertaking a major overhaul of his squad – which could see some new arrivals in east London, as well as some notable departures.

Yet, transfer business can be complicated – especially with less time to get deals over the line this year with the window slamming shut on August 9 – and interconnected, and we’ve taken a closer look at how their dealings might interfere with the plans of their Premier League rivals this summer…

Michail Antonio joins Crystal Palace

According to reliable club insider @ExWHUemployee in his latest The West Ham Way transfer blog, the east London club are ready to sell winger Antonio this summer if they receive an acceptable offer for the 28-year-old.

@ExWHUemployee reports that Crystal Palace made an offer for the England international last month, but that it wasn’t worth entertaining as it clearly came way below their valuation of the player, who was hampered by injury and being played out of position by David Moyes in 2017/18.

It is unclear exactly how much the east London outfit want for the former Reading man, but given he only signed a new four-year deal in 2017 it is clear they want a big fee that will allow Manuel Pellegrini to re-invest the money into his squad.

West Ham sign Jean Seri

According to reports in The Sun earlier this month, West Ham have joined the race to bring Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri to the Premier League.

Both Chelsea and their other London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the Ivory Coast international, who has a release clause of £35m in his contract, as per The Sun.

While that price would smash their transfer record, if they get the money they want for Antonio it could tempt the Irons owners to then match the huge fee that it would take to bring a player that was a target for Barcelona less than 12 months ago, to the London Stadium.

Tottenham sign Rafinha

Pellegrini is clearly keen to bring a new midfielder to east London this summer having been linked with Seri, as well as Barcelona midfielder Rafinha, as per Spanish media outlet Sport, although he could face competition from Premier League rivals Spurs according to a more recent report from Sport.

Should West Ham sign Seri it would it would leave their London neighbours in a good position to sign the Brazil international, who looks to be surplus to requirements at Barcelona having spent the 2017/18 season on loan at Inter Milan.

The 25-year-old could prove to be a replacement for the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Mousa Dembele, who Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly ready to move on this summer.

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