- The Hammers finished ninth last season
- Julen Lopetegui in charge after David Moyes' exit
- Recommended bet: Top 10 finish

West Ham are one of several Premier League clubs who will kick-off the new season with a new man in charge and plenty will be expected of Julen Lopetegui as he tries to get the Hammers moving up the table.

Under David Moyes they finished ninth last season, 11 points off the top six and while pushing into the European places will be the aim this term, achieving it could be trickier for the former Wolves and Spain boss.

Last season

After winning the Europa Conference League the previous season, Moyes went into the 2023-24 campaign with plenty of credit, although there were still some dissenting voices from the fanbase, who had grown tired of his defensive-minded tactics.

They did make a good start, winning three of their first four games and drawing the other, but things quickly became difficult and by the time of successive heavy defeats in February to Manchester United, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, Moyes was coming under a lot of pressure.

The 6-0 home loss to the Gunners was a particular low-point as the Hammers were torn apart and 4-0 down at the break.

Their Europa League campaign was often more enjoyable and an eventual quarter-final defeat to finalists and soon-to-be German champions Bayer Leverkusen was no disgrace.

It came as little surprise to see the Scot leave at the end of the season and the appointment of the experienced Lopetegui seems progressive, although risky considering his own sketchy record so far in management.

The manager

Lopetegui, a former goalkeeper who played over 300 club games for the likes of Rayo Vallecano, Las Palmas and Logrones, after originally coming through the Real Madrid academy set-up, was named Wolves boss in November 2022.

However, he only lasted eight months at Molineux before leaving on the eve of last season, apparently after learning there was no more money to spend on new players at the Midlands club.

Before that, Lopetegui had been in charge of Spain for two years between 2016-18 but also left that role under a cloud as, with his players already in Russia preparing for the World Cup, he was sacked as La Roja boss just before the tournament began following the news he had agreed to take over as Real Madrid coach after the competition.

It did not go well for him at Real, though, as he lasted just over two months back at the Bernabeu as poor results cost him his job.

He fared much better at Sevilla in his next role, however, winning the Europa League with them in 2020.

Transfers

The recent £27million acquisition of Germany international Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund is the Hammers' stand-out purchase of the summer and the striker should be able to get goals in the Premier League, with his physical approach likely to suit the English game and quickly win over any sceptical fans.

Max Kilman, who worked well with Lopetegui at Wolves, is another astute buy, while the excting Crysencio Summerville has joined after impressing with Leeds in the Championship.

There have also been several departures during the transfer window with first-team squad members Thilo Kehrer, Angelo Ogbonna, Said Benrahma and Flynn Downes all moving on.

Strengths and weaknesses

Jarrod Bowen was the Hammers' player of the season, scoring 16 league goals last term, while the England international was also the first Irons player to break the 20-goal barrier in all competitions since Marlon Harewood did it back in 2005.

While Bowen stood out, Mohammed Kudus also enjoyed a superb campaign, netting 18 times in total and there remains plenty of quality throughout the squad from the likes of Tomas Soucek, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez and Michail Antonio.

Lopetegui has also inherited plenty of issues he must try and resolve, though.

Despite finishing in the top half, the Hammers were outscored by all the teams above them in the table, bar Manchester United, while their defensive record was fairly abysmal.

Moyes' side conceded 74 goals last season with only the three relegated teams — Sheffield United, Luton and Burnley — shipping more.

Best outright bet

Last season's ninth-place finish will be the absolute minimum target for Lopetegui this time around and even that may not be enough to appease fans who are eager to see the Hammers compete with the likes of Aston Villa, Tottenham and Chelsea further up the table.

But the Premier League remains very strong and with plenty of teams improving their squads over the summer, West Ham may find themselves competing for the mid-table spots at best again when spring comes around.

Fullkrug could well turn out to be a great signing and there is enough quality in the squad with Bowen, Paqueta and co to suggest they can improve on last term.

But the safer play could be banking on them to secure a top-half finish again.

Back West Ham to finish in the top 10 at 9/10 with LiveScore Bet.