Four West Ham stars change shirt numbers and fans spot two transfer hints

Four West Ham players including Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca have changed kit numbers for the new season.

The Hammers revealed the news on the day the new shirt was released and fans think the news hints at two bits of major transfer news.

Alphonse Areola and Maxwel Cornet are the other players to switch squad numbers.

West Ham stars including Lucas Paqueta will wear new shirt numbers next season but does it hint at transfers?

Paqueta made a slow start to life in claret and blue but picked up form at the end of the season and played the crucial through ball into the path of Jarrod Bowen for the winger to win the Conference League for West Ham.

The Brazilian wore the No11 last term but will now take up the No10 shirt. That was worn by Manuel Lanzini, who departed after his contract expired.

Scamacca showed glimpses of quality in his first year at West Ham but his minutes were restricted by manager David Moyes and injury. There has been rumours he could leave the club with Roma keen.

However, fans believe he is now staying as Scamacca has chosen to ditch No7 in favour of Paqueta’s old No11.

The move means that the No7 is now vacant and some fans think it could be for the arrival of Leciester winger Harvey Barnes.

West Ham are keen on the relegated player but appear to be trailing in the race with Newcastle out in front. Barnes wore No7 for years with the Foxes.

Other changes at West Ham see goalkeeper Areola swap No13 for No23. The last player to wear No23 was Issa Diop.

And Cornet will now wear No17 and not No14. Bowen previously wore the number when he initially arrived at the club before moving to his preffered No20.