West Ham United

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 17:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Lopetegui confirmed West Ham "don't have bad news about the injuries" but feels he has to be aware of the varied preparations some of his players have had, adding: "Some are ready more than others".

• The manager said a decision would be made on Friday over new signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka's availability, but they are "happy with him" and that "all of the new signs are going to improve our level".

• The Hammers boss added: "Competition is very important for us. He is a player we like that will help us to improve and add a lot of things to our team. All the players that came and others that are here, the focus is always on the team. He is very happy to be here. He has a good age, very mature and has experience."

• On Kurt Zouma's future: "Kurt is a fantastic person and very good player and he is going to choose his future and we will wait. True, he is talking with other teams right now so we will see what happens. We have big respect for him."

• On his first Premier League game in charge: "We are very excited about this first match, knowing the difficult team we are going to face. But we have a big ambition to play in front of our fans knowing we are all working the pre-season for this moment. Our focus is knowing their quality, but I believe in us and us being ready for this big challenge."

• He feels the "extra energy" from the fans is important and that they still "support in the bad moments we will have in this match".

• On Jarrod Bowen's selection as club captain: "He is a respected player, he is a national team player, he has the commitment with the club to become the next captain. We are all going to help him. He is happy to double up his responsibility because as captain, he doesn’t have any privilege, but he has a big responsibility and everyone will help him with his work."

• On targets for the season: "I don't put limits on our dreams. We have to dream but the only way to achieve them is to work. We can talk about ambition but our ambition is to train here everyday, to put on our best and be better."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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West Ham have won their opening Premier League match in just one of the past eight seasons (drawn one, lost six), beating Newcastle 4-2 in 2021-22.

The Hammers have lost their opening game in the Premier League more often than any other side (15).

Image source, Getty Images

Jarrod Bowen has said being named captain of West Ham gives him "another opportunity to represent the club with honour and pride".

The England international forward, 27, joined the Hammers in January 2020 and scored the winning goal in their Europa Conference League final victory in 2023.

He will follow in the footsteps of legendary previous captains of the club, including Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds and Mark Noble.

"I don't see it as weighing heavy - I see it as another opportunity to represent this club with honour and pride," he said in a video posted on West Ham's social media channels.

"Those names will be remembered forever by West Ham fans and I'm not there yet, but I want to keeping working my way to get to there.

"I've said that I wanted to stay here for the rest of my life and I still haven't come off that page. If I can go down as a legend here in years to come, that would be great."

Long-serving full-back Aaron Cresswell has been named as vice-captain.

It's that time of the year again - the annual act of foolishness in which I try to predict the outcome of the 2024-25 season for all 20 Premier League clubs.

West Ham United - eighth

Julen Lopetegui has replaced David Moyes, whose full worth to West Ham United may yet become clear in the months ahead, and not just because he won the Europa Conference League.

Lopetegui has been keen to return to the Premier League since leaving Wolves and he now has the squad to prove his worth, backed by good transfer business in the summer.

West Ham already had plenty of class with Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus, but they have added to that with the signings of Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United and Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund. The powerful Germany striker looks a perfect Premier League fit.

Lopetegui has also been reunited with former Wolves captain Max Kilman, who will play alongside Jean-Clair Todibo at the heart of defence, a signing regarded as a real coup.

Prospects look good for the Hammers, if Lopetegui can piece it all together. They are a good bet for a cup.

Read all of Phil's predictions here

West Ham have set their sights on a deal for Roma's Tammy Abraham with the Serie A club willing to sell the 26-year-old England striker for £25m. (Gazzetta dello Sport via Football Italia), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made.

Here is the list of the ties - which are split into southern and northern sections - involving Premier League clubs:

South

• AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town

• Brighton & Hove Albion v Crawley Town

• Birmingham City v Fulham

• Cardiff City v Southampton

• Colchester United v Brentford

• Crystal Palace v Norwich City

• West Ham United v Bournemouth

North

• Everton v Doncaster Rovers

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United

• Leicester City v Tranmere Rovers

• Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley

See the full draw

The games will take place in w/c 26 August.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the latest addition to Julen Lopetegui's West Ham revolution, signing from Manchester United for £15m.

The 26-year-old right-back is the Hammers' eighth addition this summer with a total surpassing £120m - and that does not include the £34m they are obliged to pay Nice next summer to make Jean-Clair Todibo's loan permanent.

From an objective standpoint, £15m for a player who made 236 appearances for United over five seasons - including 16 in the Champions League - and won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup does seem a bargain.

That's the view of former Derby defender Curtis Davies on Wednesday's Football Daily podcast.

According to FBRef, Wan-Bissaka's 2.07 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League last season was higher than every West Ham player to have played a full match and his 73.1% of dribblers tackled places him just behind central defenders Angelo Ogbonna and Konstantinos Mavrapanos.

The man he will replace in Lopetegui's defence is probably 31-year-old Vladimir Coufal. Comparing the past three seasons for both players, Wan-Bissaka leads Coufal in tackles won (1.81 to 1.02), shots blocked (0.70 to 0.37) and percentage of dribblers tackled (70% to 50%).

It is this one-on-one defending that endeared Wan-Bissake to United supporters, his 2020 Champions League performance keeping Neymar and Kylian Mbappe quiet against Paris St-Germain a particular highlight.

His versatility is another strength, with Stretford Paddock's Jay Motty describing him as "defensively one of the best in the world" after featuring as a left-back in March's dramatic FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool.

However, there are questions over his suitability for a progressive, possession-based style of play under Lopetegui. Two goals and 10 assists in 130 league games at Old Trafford does not scream attacking output, with BBC pundit and former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin once commenting: "He can't cross a ball, external".

From an attacking perspective, Coufal outranks Wan-Bissaka per 90 in crosses (4.37 to 1.76), progressive passes (4.61 to 3.07) and goal-creating actions (0.29 to 0.05). Coufal is primarily known for his solidity and physicality yet his touches in the attacking third per 90 at 22 is higher than Wan-Bissaka at 18.4.

Now it is Lopetegui's job to find a system that allows Wan-Bissaka to exhibit his defensive strength and manages his limitations going forward.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham's £15m signing of Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a "bargain", former Derby defender Curtis Davies has said.

Wan-Bissaka signed a seven-year deal with the Hammers on Tuesday.

"They're making a statement as they've signed a lot of good players," ex-Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Whether they gel is another matter," .

"David Moyes finished where he did and they're going to do well to repeat that, but it is a statement of intent."

West Ham have also added centre-backs Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman to their squad during the summer and Davies said of their defence: "It's going to be new-look with a new manager and a new way of doing things.

"For Wan-Bissaka £15m, in my opinion, is a bargain. Manchester United paid £50m for him and he's still only 26 years old."

Former Wycombe left-back Joe Jacobson added: "He's up there with the best I've seen at one-on-one defending. He's always been a kind of scapegoat at United and fans never quite took to him. On the ball, United have this entitlement of how they want their players to be and he hasn't quite fitted into it.

"He's at a great age to cement himself in the first team of a solid Premier League team and restart his career."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday at the conclusion of the first-round tie between Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

Thirteen Premier League clubs will enter in the second round, as will Luton Town and Burnley, who were relegated from the top flight in 18th and 19th positions last season.

The draw for round two will be regionalised into northern and southern sections.

The seven Premier League clubs playing in European competitions in 2024-25, including Carabao Cup holders Liverpool, will come in at the third-round stage.

The key dates for the competition are as follows:

• Second round - w/c 26 August

• Third round - w/c 16 and w/c 23 September

• Fourth round - w/c 28 October

• Quarter-finals - w/c 16 December

• Semi-finals - w/c 6 January (first leg) and w/c 3 February

• Final - 16 March

Follow Wednesday's action and then the full draw here from 19:30 BST

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport football statistician

Many people outside of West Ham could not understand supporter dissatisfaction last season given the club's top-half finish, but the stats do support some of the concerns they had.

Match-going fans did not often see the team play on the front foot, as the Hammers rarely dominated the ball or fought to win it high up the pitch. While that can be written off as a preference of playing style, the fact only four teams had fewer shots going forward and only three faced more at the back cannot.

Results are what matter most so a third top-half finish in four seasons is a great achievement, but new head coach Julen Lopetegui has more to work on than last season's table suggests if West Ham hope to repeat the feat.

Al-Ittihad do not want to sell 33-year-old France midfielder N'Golo Kante, despite links with West Ham United and Atletico Madrid. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

We asked for your views on West Ham signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United for £15m.

Here are some of your comments:

Sue: Another good signing - sounds like an interesting season coming up for us.

Len: Things are looking good at West Ham - looks at last a solid defence and a good balance to the team. Hope the youngsters are given a chance - they have worked hard for it and it will motivate others in the academy.

Alex: Got to be a good signing for us. Coufal has served us well but his time is up, I fear. AWB is still quite young for a full-back so should serve us well for a good few years. He is the missing piece of our backline puzzle. If we could bring in a left-back too that would be fantastic. I still think we need a younger striker to complete us.

Andy: Wan-Bissaka is just making up numbers really. He;s no improvement on what we've already got, and by the sounds of it wasn't enthusiastic about joining. But the squad needed numbers, so at least there's that. A very 'meh' signing.

Roy: Well, the manager has had great support and I believe he has made some very shrewd signings. We are going to be a handful but we need the players he has signed to feed Jarrod Bowen so he can fulfil his true potential. Far more to come from Jarrod and James Ward-Prowse. Good manager, great signings. New signings - don't let the manager down, guys.

Gavin: Well pleased with this signing. I think it completes the team brilliantly. A London boy, still in his prime. Plenty of experience too from playing in Europe with United. Hopefully we can get back into Europe soon. Come on, you Irons.

James Jones
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

Eighth-10th. I think a top-10 finish should be the target at the very least. The decision to move on David Moyes and go in a different direction will only be vindicated if Julen Lopetegui builds on the very solid foundations Moyes left in place. On paper, the squad is good enough to challenge for European qualification, but we have to be realistic.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

Niclas Fullkrug. All the business the club has done has been brilliant, but signing the Germany striker is something of a coup given his career achievements over the past four years. There is real hope that he will be the man to finally end West Ham's Premier League striker curse.

What do you want from your manager this season?

Signs of progress, but also that the football will be a lot more fun to watch than it was over the final 18 months of Moyes' tenure. It will not always be possible and we will have to witness the odd very defensive display still, but if the signs are there that he wants his team to have possession of the ball, the fans should be more accepting.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

If George Earthy is not sent out on loan then he could enjoy some increased first-team action this season. He has a lot of promise after scoring against Luton on his debut last season.

What is your one major concern?

That if does not click straight away, fans will get restless. This season must be all about transition and the players getting used to Lopetegui's ideas. We have to be patient and give it time. The reality is that it is not going to be perfect at all times and there will likely be some frustrating and difficult moments throughout the season.

James Jones can be found at We Are West Ham, external

Image source, WHUFC

New West Ham signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka has said he is "excited and happy to" to be at the club after signing from Manchester United for £15m.

The right-back has joined the Hammers on a seven-year contract after making 190 appearances for the Red Devils across five seasons.

Speaking about his move he told West Ham's official website: “It was a no brainer for me to join West Ham – I’m excited and happy to be here.”

The 26-year-old started his career at Crystal Palace and said: “It’s an amazing feeling to be back in London, and I’m excited for what’s coming. I was born here, so I know the ins and outs of London, which plays a big part in my life, so to be back playing in this city means a lot to me.

“I’m happy to be here, am grateful for the warm welcome, and I am excited to be playing for the club and will give it my all.

“I can’t wait to get on the pitch, get to know the players, and push on from there. I see a team that is in it together, that will push each other to win, and a group that has got each others' backs through thick and thin, so being part of that and having that insurance helps a lot when you are surrounded by a good squad.”

The club have announced he will wear the number 29 shirt, after having previously worn it at Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

What are you thoughts on the signing?

Have your say here, external

After a long summer break, BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club is back in action this evening.

Tune in as the panel cover all the major talking points from the summer and look ahead to Premier League football returning at the weekend.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Kurt Zouma’s proposed move United Arab Emirates side Shabab Al-Ahli has collapsed after the West Ham defender failed a medical.

Zouma had travelled to Dubai to complete a lucrative deal but his advisors are now trying to work out an alternative option.

The former Chelsea star still has a year left on his Hammers contract but the club has already brought in another central defender in Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice on a loan deal that includes a €40m (£34.22m) obligation to buy.

In addition, West Ham paid Wolves £40m for skipper Max Kilman last month.

Image source, Getty Images

The curtain opens on the 2024-25 Premier League season in just a matter of days, so why not take a look at how all 20 clubs performed in pre-season?

The games have been spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Crawley and Preston.

See the results here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's pre-season friendly between West Ham United and Celta Vigo.

Here are some of your comments:

Adam: Bit of a mixed pre-season really, but the squad looks good and some great signings. Europe places comfortably. COYI.

Jimmy: Exciting time to be a Hammer with real ambition shown pre-season by the board. I won’t forget that Moyes set us on this journey and now it’s the boys' time to show their worth and desire to be legends in years to come.

Adrian: The first choice team looks so much better than anything else we’ve seen in pre-season. Defending needs lots of work but we now have something to build on.

Rob: The squad is shaping up wonderfully but it will be a few games before we are able to field our ideal first XI. Some tough fixtures to negotiate but West Ham supporters should be over the proverbial moon with the investment the club has made.

Ian: A lot of positives. Much more pressing and assertive play. New players got a run out and I have a lot of hope for the new season. Credit where due, we seem to have brought in better quality and players will have to compete for places.