Manuel Pellegrini has put pen to paper on a three-year contract worth £10m-a-year with West Ham in a bid to turn around the club’s fortunes.
West Ham have endured two disastrous seasons on the pitch since moving to the London Stadium. David Moyes left his position as West Ham manager after guiding the club to a 13th-place finish.
The Hammers have struggled for stability over the last few years and securing a manager for the long-term was of utmost importance.
Here are three changes that Pellegrini must make at West Ham to help them achieve a top-10 finish next term.
Clear out deadwood
West Ham have a lot of deadwood in their squad and if they are to move in the right direction, then a summer clear-out is definitely needed.
Andy Carroll has had a frustrating season blighted with injuries and poor form. Even when fully fit, the tall striker has failed to deliver the goods and he has failed to hit double figures in a single season since his permanent move from Liverpool in 2013.
Cheikhou Kouyate is another player that Pellegrini should look to offload. The Senegalese has not performed to his standards and this would be the ideal time to sell him. Pablo Zabaleta has looked out of sorts since joining the Hammers, while Patrice Evra has rarely played.
It is high time for Pellegrini to make some bold moves before the start of the season.
Change style of play
West Ham fans have witnessed uninspiring displays over the last two seasons, thanks to Slaven Bilic and David Moyes. The two managers are not known for their attacking and expansive style of football, which often caused a lot of frustration amongst the fans.
In contrast, Pellegrini is an attacking manager who lifted the league title with Manchester City in his previous stint in England. Wherever the Chilean has been, he has taken the same coaching philosophy with him and that won’t change at West Ham.
Improve the defence
It isn’t rocket science to suggest West Ham’s defence is in desperate need of a reshuffle after a couple of miserable seasons.
To start with, Pellegrini must at least sign two defenders to improve his backline. Young Declan Rice should keep his place, while Angelo Ogbonna’s vast improvement since the upturn of the year could see him as a West Ham player next season.
However, it is time for Pellegrini to pump fresh blood in the squad in the summer transfer window.