Julen Lopetegui. Picture: Oli SCARFF, AFP
Julen Lopetegui cannot wait for the summer transfer window to close, with the West Ham manager adamant it should shut before the start of the new Premier League season.
The Hammers have brought in eight players, but need to let others go as they try to balance the squad and make sure they stay within the Premier League’s profit and sustainability (PSR) rules.
Kurt Zouma could leave the London Stadium, while Maxwel Cornet, Nayef Aguerd and Danny Ings may be on their way out as well.
“In this time before the market closes, for everyone, it’s still not certain who might come and go,” former Spain boss Lopetegui said on Thursday.
“We have to adapt, but the competition is tough. We’ve tried to adapt with the new players, and we have to balance everything and try to be competitive. It’s true that you have to keep competing in the market while working towards games.”
The 57-year-old Spaniard, previously in charge of both Real Madrid and Sevilla, as well as Premier League side Wolves, insisted the uncertainty was bad for his players.
“Once the market is closed, I think the players are fully focused, but we have to adapt,” he said. “For sure, I would prefer the market to be closed before the start of the season.”
Lopetegui gave full debuts to Max Kilman and Guido Rodriguez, and brought on fellow new signings Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Jean-Clair Todibo in an opening-day defeat by Aston Villa last weekend.
West Ham now travel across London to face Crystal Palace, who lost 2-1 to Brentford, in the first round of the campaign.
“Villa is in the past, and I think we have to look forward,” said Lopetegui. “We have another big challenge against Crystal Palace, but we believe in ourselves and we have to show our qualities both with and without the ball in a difficult stadium.”
Aaron Wan-Bissaka could make his full debut against former club Palace, having moved to West Ham from Manchester United earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Fulham have signed Norway midfielder Sander Berge from Burnley on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.
Berge joins Fulham following the departure of Joao Palhinha, who left for German giants Bayern Munich earlier in the transfer window.
“It feels fantastic,” Berge said in a Fulham statement. “It’s been a little bit back and forth the last few weeks, but I’m finally sitting here in the shirt in this beautiful stadium, knowing that my future is here, which feels great.”
“Fulham has always been a team that excited me. I’ve played them both in the Championship and Premier League, and it’s fantastic how they play.”
Berge, 26, could make his debut for Marco Silva’s side against Leicester in the Premier League at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
AFP
Weekend’s Premier League Fixtures (SA times)
Saturday (1.30pm): Brighton vs Manchester United. (4pm): Crystal Palace vs West Ham, Fulham vs Leicester City, Manchester City vs Ipswich Town, Southampton vs Nottingham Forest, Tottenham vs Everton. (6.30pm): Aston Villa vs Arsenal
Sunday (3pm): Bournemouth vs Newcastle, Wolves vs Chelsea. (5.30pm): Liverpool vs Brentford
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