How West Ham could line up with Harry Maguire and completely new midfield as Moyes splashes Rice cash
WEST HAM are set to line-up with Harry Maguire and a new look midfield this season.
The Hammers have £105million in the bank from selling captain Declan Rice but are yet to complete a transfer.
Finally, the club are now seeing movement on potential signings.
Manchester United have agreed to sell Maguire in a £30m deal after Erik ten Hag stripped him of the captaincy earlier this summer.
West Ham submitted a joint £60m bid for the England international and Scott McTominay.
The offer for the midfielder was rejected as United want closer to £45m, but Maguire could be set for a move to East London.
Manager David Moyes has experimented with a three centre-backs in pre-season and used the formation occasionally last campaign.
He could implement the system more regularly this term to compliment for the loss of Rice in midfield.
Maguire could form a strong three-man defence with Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma.
Rice looks set to be replaced by Ajax and Mexico star Edson Alvarez.
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The 25-year-old has undergone a medical at the club ahead of his £35m move, which is set to be announced before their Premier League opener versus Bournemouth on Saturday.
Alvarez could be joined in the engine room by Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse, who could step in for Tomas Soucek.
West Ham and the Saints have been locked in negotiations for some time and there has supposedly been a breakthrough with a £30m fee agreed between the two sides.
There are rumours that Lucas Paqueta has had his head turned by interest from Manchester City.
The Brazilian playmaker might push for a transfer despite West Ham being adamant they won’t consider selling for under £85m.
If he is sold, Moyes could possibly re-launch interest in McTominay to bolster his midfield despite him being far less creative than Paqueta.
Jarrod Bowen was the hero of West Ham’s Conference League final win over Fiorentina, scoring the winning goal and he is likely to join forces with Michail Antonio in attack again.
Elsewhere, Emerson and Vladimir Coufal seem to be the first choice full-backs.
In goal, Lukasz Fabianski could be No1 again but is being pushed by Alphonse Areola.