Manuel Pellegrini hints at more West Ham signings after £100m spending spree

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James Benge24 July 2018

New West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has hinted he is prepared to spend further after spending nearly £100million to improve his squad this summer.

Seven new players have arrived at the London Stadium since Pellegrini’s appointment in May. Felipe Anderson cost a club record £47million, Ukrainian forward Andriy Yarmolenko arrived for £17.5m from Borussia Dortmund whilst the English core of the squad was expanded with the additions of Jack Wilshere and Ryan Fredericks on free transfers.

There are likely to be high-profile departures from the London Stadium before the transfer window closes, with forwards Jordan Hugill and Michail Antonio expected to move on.

They would serve to top up Pellegrini's transfer fund and the new boss has indicated his spending is not at its end.

“We are trying to build a strong squad,” Pellegrini said at his official unveiling at the London Stadium. “The Premier League is not easy. You don't just need to have a team you need to have a squad.

“For the moment we have seven new players but we have three important players [Andy Carroll, Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini] injured. So in the last days that we have time to bring in in players we will to build as strong a squad as we can.

“We are working together with the board and will see how much money we have now, but we are working and we are building a strong squad.”

AFP/Getty Images

Midfielder Pedro Obiang is among those who have been most consistently linked with the exit door, Sampdoria credited with an interest in the 26-year-old.

Pellegrini refused to quell speculation over that possible departure but insisted that were Obiang to leave he would be replaced.

“I don't talk about individuals until it’s official. We will see what happens. If any players must go, we are going to find replacements for them.”

Pellegrini was appointed as the permanent successor to David Moyes over two months ago, signing a three-year deal at the Hammers.

The 64-year-old had previously managed Real Madrid and Manchester City and is excited for the project that comes with reviving a West Ham side who spent the first half of last season battling against relegation.

"I know what West Ham is in English football, a very popular team here in London. I know that they need to improve so it's a challenge for me also.

“The first conversation I had with David Sullivan and Karren Brady they convinced me they had a very good project here and they wanted me to be in front. That's when I decided to take it.”

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