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How West Ham United could line up next season

Sports Mole looks at how West Ham United could line up during the 2020-21 campaign.

West Ham United will be looking forward to seeing the back of the 2019-20 campaign, whenever that might be, as it has been a tough season for the club.

The Hammers lost their last Premier League match at Arsenal on March 7, leaving them 16th in the table, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

It remains to be seen whether the current season can be completed, but David Moyes's side will be determined to secure their top-flight status before resetting for the 2020-21 campaign.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the capital outfit could line up next term.


POSS WHU XI 20-21

Unless West Ham are relegated then there is unlikely to be a change between the sticks. Indeed, Lukasz Fabianski is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and his spot for next season seems certain unless, as mentioned, the Hammers do ultimately drop into the Championship.

Further forward, the capital side were strongly linked with Nottingham Forest's Matty Cash in January and could revisit that situation this summer. The 22-year-old has contributed three goals and four assists from right-back in the Championship this season and could now make the step up.

Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop have both had their problems this season, but the pair are solid defenders in their own right, and there is no question that they have the talent to form a strong partnership at the back.

Aaron Cresswell could also keep his spot in the XI despite struggling for form. Real Betis's Alex Moreno has been linked with a switch to the London Stadium, but the Spaniard's release clause is thought to be in the region of £37m, potentially scuppering any chance of a deal.

In midfield, Declan Rice has recently been linked with a return to Chelsea, but West Ham will surely fight tooth and nail to keep hold of the England international. The Hammers are also expected to sign Tomas Soucek on a permanent deal this summer as the 25-year-old has shown promise since arriving on loan in January.

Manuel Lanzini could be on his way out of West Ham this summer and is unlikely to be in Moyes's plans next season, but the returning Grady Diangana will be eyeing a spot in the side. The attacker has scored five goals and registered six assists on loan at West Bromwich Albion this term and is showing plenty of promise.

On the opposite side, Jarrod Bowen will be looking to nail down a spot. The January arrival from Hull City has impressed in the early stages of his time with the Hammers and his performance at Arsenal last time out suggested that he is more than capable of becoming a very good Premier League player.

In a 4-2-3-1 formation, the position just behind the lone forward is very interesting. Felipe Anderson could be switched inside in an attempt to get the most out of his unquestionable talent, but Pablo Fornals perhaps makes the most sense. The Spaniard will certainly be in a better position next season as it was always going to take time to settle in English football. Fornals has still contributed five Premier League assists this season despite his struggles and could be a big player for Moyes's side given the chance.

Like Fornals, West Ham will be hoping that Sebastien Haller will have benefited from a difficult first campaign in English football. The 25-year-old has struggled for consistency this term but has still managed seven Premier League goals, which is hardly a disastrous return for a side struggling at the wrong end of the table.

It seems unlikely that the Hammers will be getting rid of of the Frenchman at the end of the season, and the West Ham fans will be hoping to see a new and improved Haller next term.

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Jack Collison pictured for West Ham in 2013
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