West Ham team news: Opening day XI predicted – Two new signings debut against Man City
WEST HAM have had a quiet summer in the transfer market, but there will undoubtedly be some new faces in their starting XI on the opening weekend of the season.
West Ham: Declan Rice trains with squad at Rush Green
The Hammers have welcomed two new signings to the London Stadium since the end of last season as Manuel Pellegrini bolsters his squad ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
Sebastien Haller became the club’s new record buy after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for £45million while Pablo Fornals has impressed in pre-season since arriving from Villarreal.
Andy Carroll and goalkeeper Adrian were released upon the expiration of their contracts while Pedro Obiang has also left the club, joining Sassuolo in a deal worth around £7m.
The mass exodus has thinned out what was a fairly bloated squad, with Pellegrini still having plenty of options available for the opening game of the season against Manchester City.
Lukasz Fabianski missed the pre-season clash with Hertha Berlin due to a minor muscle problem but should return in goal against the Champions.
Ryan Fredericks and Pablo Zabaleta are in competition at right-back while Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena are the established first-choice partnership in central defence.
Manuel Pellegrini could give two new signings their Premier League debuts against Manchester City (Image: GETTY•buildlineup.com)
The Hammers host Manchester City on the opening weekend of the season (Image: GETTY)
Winston Reid is another option as he continues his rehabilitation from a long-term injury and Pellegrini faces a choice between Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku at left-back – with whoever gets the nod needing to shackle a rampant Raheem Sterling.
Declan Rice and Mark Noble should start in central midfield although Jack Wilshere is available once more and will hope to feature at some point.
Meanwhile, Manuel Lanzini has shone in pre-season and is likely to operate in the No 10 role with Felipe Anderson and Fornals out wide.
Finally, Haller should lead the line after West Ham splashed the cash on the Frenchman, meaning the likes of Javier Hernandez, Michail Antonio, Andriy Yarmolenko and Robert Snodgrass will all have to watch on from the bench.
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Is this how Manuel Pellegrini's side will line up against City? (Image: buildlineup.com)
West Ham United predicted line-up vs Manchester City – Premier League