West Ham Season Preview: Key Player, Signing to Watch, Predicted Lineup and Betting Tip
West Ham are next up in our 2024/25 Premier League season preview as we look back at their 2023/24 campaign, pick out the key player, the signing to watch, predict where they'll finish and make a betting tip via oddschecker.
2023/24 Season Roundup
In their final season under David Moyes, West Ham reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League, falling to defeat against unbeaten Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. The Hammers finished ninth in the Premier League, struggling to keep up with the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle in the race for European football. Moyes’ side won just four league games this side of the New Year, before it was eventually confirmed that the Scotsman would be replaced by Julen Lopetegui at the end of the campaign.
Key Player - Jarrod Bowen
Despite the impressive performances of what is now a star-studded West Ham squad, including the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen - recently named club captain - remains their key player. Last season the England international netted a career-best 16 Premier League goals, while also providing six assists. His adaptability in the frontline - playing on the wing or as a No 9 - will be sure to appeal to new boss Lopetegui.
Signing to Watch - Crysencio Summerville
West Ham have been one of the Premier League’s busiest clubs in the summer transfer window, as the club’s hierarchy seek to provide new manager Julen Lopetegui with high quality reinforcements for the coming season. Of the eight players to have arrived thus far, we’ve picked out former Leeds attacker Crysencio Summerville as our signing to watch. The 22-year-old starred in the Championship last term, netting 20 goals and providing nine assists on his way to being named the division’s Player of the Season. Summerville also earned a higher WhoScored rating (7.62) than any other player in the Championship, and will no doubt be keen to prove himself in the top-flight.
Predicted opening day XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Emerson; Soucek, Rodriguez; Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta; Fullkrug
Predicted finish - 10th
Betting tip
We may have predicted the Hammers to finish 10th, but given they will not be playing European football this season, our betting tip is for West Ham to finish highest among sides excluding the ‘Big Seven’ (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham) at 4/1 with SkyBet, via oddschecker (price correct as of 14:30 on 15/08/2024).
