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Time to move forward not backwards, West Ham United progressed purposefully during Manuel Pellegrini's first season in charge leaving any fans hopeful for the coming year. So talk of the club re-signing Dimitri Payet seems a little of kilter, definitely not the sort of player that El Pel and the Huse, Mario Husillos, are looking to bring to the club, maybe last year, but not now.

In our recent poll as to whether the club should sell Declan Rice for £80 Million, an overwhelming 70 plus % of over 1,000 who voted elected to select No at any price. Perhaps a few years ago it would have been pointless to run such a poll because the player would already be on their way out of the door!

For every winner there is a loser, and West Ham United fans will be feeling they are currently winners as opposed to Newcastle United fans who will definitely feel as if they are on the losing side, at least in the short term!

Rafa Benitez's exit from Newcastle, while hardly being surprising, could not have come at a better time for West Ham as they try to get their summer business concluded as soon as is humanly possible. Speculation has been rife with regards the on off transfer of Maxi Gomez, however Hammers have been handed not one but two extra strings to their bow.

Before the dust had even settled on the Barclays Premier League season West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini made it very clear which areas of the Squad needed strengthening, along with head of recruitment Mario Husillos they embarked on the transfer trail 'early doors'. The pair made it clear to the Hammers hierarchy that the goal keeping situation needed resolving, as did the need for an additional centre back, a creative midfielder was required as was an out and out striker.

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West Ham United's pursuit of Felipe Anderson last season was a departure from the club's usual way of doing business, the reason being that the negotiations were conducted in 'private' by Mario Husillos and Manuel Pellegrini. The deal took a long tome to get over the line, and indeed seemed like it would never happen on numerous occasions, but eventually the pair's determination to get their man paid off handsomely.

Maxi Gomez is Spanish club Celta Vigo's prize asset, and as such it is only to be expected that they will play hard ball when it comes to the player's sale, however Celta's insistence that the full release value of £42 Million be paid has put the brakes on two of his previous suitors moving for the talented Uruguayan.

Having been 'linked' with a combined total of in excess of £140 Million for players other clubs seek to prise from the club, West Ham United have also been 'linked' with bringing in just about every player with a pulse that is available, or unavailable as the case may be. The column inches surrounding Manchester United and approaches for both Declan Rice and Issa Diop are full and far, possibly due to a misogynistic male lack of reporting of the Women's World Cup.

While there is optimism about the latest group of players to emerge from the club's 'famous academy', that cannot be said for the preceding group, yet another of that 'generation' of players, Josh Pask, has left West Ham United. The 21 year old has signed a three year deal with Coventry City and has joined on a free contract, however it is believed there was a 20% sell on clause inserted in to the contract.

"They fly so high, nearly reach the Sky, then like my dreams......" If ever there was a more apt Football supporters song than Bubbles, particularly when referencing West Ham United, then we would like to hear what it is! For nigh on 60 years Hammers have struggled to replicate the team that 'won' the 1966 World Cup, won in Europe and won domestically, always failing in one way or another, well that's all about to change.