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West Ham United have signed 18 year old Montenegro International Sead Haksabanovic on a five year contract for a fee of around £3.5 Million from Swedish club Halmstads BK, is he one of the "ones for the future" Co-Owner David Sullivan hinted at when recently discussing the club's recruitment policy, or is the plan to try and unleash him on teams that have never seen him?.

Observers clearly lacking in knowledge about what pre-season football is supposed to be for, ie bringing a team to full fitness and full preparation ahead of the new season, as opposed to the friendlies being a cash cow, have been quick to condemn West Ham United's performance against a Man City team that had recently trounced Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

One thing most observers would say is that the once famed but recently under performing West Ham United Academy has finally come through with a new bunch of youngsters who are genuinely contenders for a first team place. To some sending Reece Burke and Josh Cullen out on loan to Bolton Wanderers might seem a negative step with regards to the player's development, but they are going to work with a manager they already know, and more importantly are guaranteed playing time.