West Ham sign £40m Nottingham Forest defender and £25m Liverpool ace as AI predicts bold summer window
As the season draws to a close, one of the sides who will be most disappointed with how it has gone are West Ham United. The Hammers had high hopes heading into the campaign after spending over £120m last summer, but things haven’t gone to plan with the East Londoners sat in 15th place ahead of the final match-day.
The managerial appointment of Julen Lopetegui didn’t have the desired effect as the Hammers regressed from last season’s 9th-placed finish, finding themselves in lower mid-table when Lopetegui was sacked in January to be replaced by Graham Potter. The former Brighton and Chelsea manager has fared no better, and will need to rethink over the summer if the club are to recreate their European challenges of recent years.
It could therefore be another busy summer, with key positions needing refreshing in addition to the concern of replacing one or two star names who may head out of the exit door.
In an intriguing prediction of the club’s summer transfer window, AI has forecast another £120m will be spent by West Ham to strengthen key areas across the pitch.
A first position they may seek to make an addition is in goal, with veteran shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski set to become a free agent when his contract expires this summer after an 18-year Premier League career. With competition needed for Alphonse Areola, AI has predicted that the Hammers will make a move for Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland’s Caoimhín Kelleher, who could make a £25m move in search of first-team football this summer.
One predicted transfer that would certainly cause waves is a £40m Hammers move for Nottingham Forest ace Murillo, who has been on the radar of a host of Europe’s top clubs for a while after two outstanding seasons in England. But the price demanded by Forest may far exceed the £40m predicted by AI if a bidding war ensues – regardless, the Brazilian is likely to seek a Champions League move after securing European football at the City Ground. Sorry AI, this one looks unlikely.
Another move predicted for the Hammers to make this transfer window is one for Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who has made just two Premier League starts since moving from Leicester City in summer 2024. AI predicts that Potter could come in for the 26-year-old in a £25m deal. The Irons could also bring in another forward option, with Jonathan David a potential target on a free transfer while AI believes Brian Brobbey could make a £30m transfer from Ajax, though a move to East London for the 23-year-old fell through in January.
The prediction also said West Ham could bring in young forward Mika Biereth from Monaco for £15m, in addition to making permanent a £35m transfer for loan star Jean-Clair Todibo.
The players who could leave West Ham this summer
The summer ahead may not be easy for West Ham, with some of their big-name stars likely to be targeted by clubs across Europe after the Hammers’ failure to qualify for European football for a second consecutive season.
According to AI, Mohammed Kudus could move on for £60m, while Lucas Paqueta could depart for £50m amidst rumours Manchester City could return for the Brazilian should he be cleared of betting charges. AI also believes defenders Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos could leave in moves worth £25m and £20m respectively, in addition to exits for Niclas Fullkrug (£15m), Emerson Palmieri (£10m) and Guido Rodríguez (£8m).
West Ham have also announced that Aaron Cresswell, Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal and Danny Ings will leave upon the expiry of their contracts, freeing up wages for new arrivals.
