REDKNAPP: WEST HAM TO FINISH 7TH OR 8TH

Former West Ham coach Harry Redknapp opines that the club would finish in the 7th or 8th position at the end of the season. The Hammers have been quite busy in the transfer market this summer, as they have in recent years.

West Ham acquired seven new players including new club record Felipe Anderson. Manuel Pellegrini has been charged with restoring pride to the side after underachieving last season. The east London side hopes the Chilean would be able to help them stabilize as an elite team in the Premier League. West Ham are widely expected to finish in the Top Ten. Redknapp feels it would be the seventh or eighth spot.

The Hammers convinced former Arsenal man Jack Wilshere to join them on a free transfer. The player is expected to rediscover his form at the club. Redknapp says if Wilshere is fit he is “a fantastic player.” He blessed the signing and believes Wilshere is still young enough to push again.

A former Chelsea and Liverpool star Joe Cole also lauded the arrival of Wilshere at the London Stadium. The injury prone player would have to work on his fitness while the club manage him well so he can make important contributions.

“I look at him and think he’s a similar player to me,” Cole said.

He added that Wilshere can still go far if he is kept fit. He insists that better coaching would have brought the best from the player. Cole opines that Wilshere should have played deeper as playing in the number 10 spot makes him prone to “trouble” as he has to dribble and run in behind.

Cole advised West Ham to play Wilshere more in the middle. He said Wilshere was more like a Marco Veratti of PSG than an Eden Hazard of Chelsea.