Green Street Hammers
Fansided

Three players to break through to West Ham’s first team next season

By Henry Tomlinson

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Grady Diangana of West Bromwich Albion reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion at John Smith's Stadium on July 17, 2020 in Huddersfield, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - JULY 17: Grady Diangana of West Bromwich Albion reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion at John Smith's Stadium on July 17, 2020 in Huddersfield, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

West Ham are having a quiet transfer window so far, but with some of the youth players impressing that may not be a bad thing.

Despite confirming the permanent signing of Tomas Soucek, West Ham are in desperate need of reinforcements for the first-team squad. The Hammers, however, may not need to go into the transfer market and could look to promote internally to strengthen.

David Moyes is said to be on the lookout for a new attacking midfielder to replace Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini potentially, should they leave. There is also need to sign defenders as that was the clubs Achilles heal last season.

There are currently at least three players that could make a good impact on the first team next season if they are given the correct chances.

1. Grady Diangana

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Grady Diangana of West Bromwich Albion celebrates after scoring their fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between West Bromwich Albion and Hull City at The Hawthorns on July 05, 2020 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Grady Diangana of West Bromwich Albion celebrates after scoring their fourth goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between West Bromwich Albion and Hull City at The Hawthorns on July 05, 2020 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) /

The attacker is back at West Ham following the completion of his loan spell at West Brom last season. Grady Diangana had great success with the Baggies, the 22-year-old became a key member of Slaven Bilic‘s attack, scoring eight and assisting seven goals in his thirty Championship appearances.

Diangana impressed so much he has become a target for several Premier League sides, forcing the club to slap a reported £25 million price tag on his head. It is likely he will remain a Hammer as Moyes looks to involve him in his first-team plans next season.

This expected involvement for Diangana could mean that the Hammers don’t need to sign QPR’s Eberechi Eze of Brentford’s Said Benrahma. The current Hammer could be seen as a ready-made replacement for at least one of Lanzini or Anderson should either leave.

Diangana already has some first-team experience with West Ham. Now he has returned a better and more developed player it could be time for Diangana to become a key member in the Hammers attack.

2. Ben Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 26: Ben Johnson of West Ham United battles for possession with Jota of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Aston Villa at London Stadium on July 26, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andy Rain/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 26: Ben Johnson of West Ham United battles for possession with Jota of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Aston Villa at London Stadium on July 26, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andy Rain/Pool via Getty Images) /

Now this one may be cheating a bit as Ben Johnson showed how good he was towards the end of the 2019/20 season. Johnson did only play three times last season and is still potentially the second choice at right-back, behind Ryan Fredericks.

What advantage Johnson has though is his ability to play on the left and right of the defence. West Ham has been linked to signing a lot of full-backs over the last few months, but Johnson could be a reason why no move has materialised as of yet.

The three of Fredericks, Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku all proved to be very inconsistent last season. Their loss of form could be Johnson’s chance at more game time. Johnson has had to fight back from injury in the previous two years, but now has seemed to put those demons behind him and could easily find himself as a first-team regular next season.

Related Story. West Ham must try and sign Rico Henry. light

West Ham has already missed out on Antonee Robinson, who has joined Fulham. The Hammer’s have also been linked with Nottingham Forrest’s Matty Cash, Brentford’s Rico Henry and river Plates Gonzalo Montiel. Johnson’s emergence could make missing out on them bearable.

3. Jamal Baptiste

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 17: Tre Pemberton of Stoke City battles for possession with Jamal Baptiste of West Ham United during the Premier League 2 match between West Ham United U23 and Stoke City U23 at London Stadium on February 17, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 17: Tre Pemberton of Stoke City battles for possession with Jamal Baptiste of West Ham United during the Premier League 2 match between West Ham United U23 and Stoke City U23 at London Stadium on February 17, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images) /

The youngest of the three at only 16-years-old, Jamal Baptiste has been taken to Scotland as part of the first team’s pre-season preparation. Baptiste has already played for the West Ham u23 side; he made his debut at that level when he was only fifteen.

West Ham is currently in a bit of pickle when it comes to centre-backs. Fabian Balbuena could be leaving the club as Moyes is not his biggest fan. Angelo Ogbonna is the wrong side of thirty, and despite the great season he had, the club needs to start thinking about a replacement. Finally, Issa Diop has been inconsistant and is also linked with a move away from the Hammers.

West Ham’s other centre-back, Winston Reid, is out on loan to Sporting Kansas City where he finally made his return to football last night. So if all the current options need replacing it is likely Baptiste could be brought into the rotation while replacements are scouted.

Should this be the case and Baptiste takes his chances, he could show why he is so highly rated and become a regular in the first-team. Of course, it is unlikely Baptiste will be the first choice come the start or even the end of next season. But he could, however, put himself to the front of the queue and show why fans should be excited about him as a prospect.

Next. Pablo Fornals could play a starring role for the Hammers next season. dark

It is still essential that West Ham bring in some new faces before the start of the season, but it might not be the end of the world. This is even more notable if these youngsters are given a clearer path to the first-team either.