With West Ham sitting just one place and one point above the Premier League’s relegation zone, Irons manager Slaven Bilic is already likely to be looking ahead to the upcoming January transfer window, where he will hope to strengthen his squad.
Some of the Croatian’s summer signings, such as Simone Zaza and Gokhan Tore, have struggled to make an impact with the club, and Bilic and the Hammers’ owners will want to keep their options firmly open as they look to steer the side clear of the bottom three in the coming weeks.
January is known for its inflated transfer fees, but some of the best value can be found in players whose deals run out in the summer, and there are a number of those in the English top flight that are free to talk to other clubs and sign pre-contract agreements next month.
Here are three potential out-of-contract bargains West Ham should target in January…
Branislav Ivanovic
The experienced Chelsea defender looks set to leave the club next summer when his contract at Stamford Bridge runs out, and West Ham should be one of the clubs taking a look at the 32-year-old.
Bilic was linked with a move for the Serbia international earlier in the season, and Ivanovic would certainly provide a solution to the Irons’ right-back problem, where winger Michail Antonio has often been deployed out of position because of injuries.
Robert Snodgrass
Hull may be struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table, but one of their standout performers has been their Scottish winger.
The 29-year-old has scored five goals in 14 top-flight appearances this term as well as providing two assists, and with his contract with the club running out next summer – and no contract extension agreed – there could be a tussle for his signature, and Bilic should be taking a look at a player who could boost his team in the final third.
Saido Berahino
West Ham have brought in striker after striker in recent years but aside from the injury-prone Andy Carroll, they have struggled to find a long-term option up top.
One player they – and a number of other Premier League clubs – are likely to be keeping tabs on is West Brom’s Saido Berahino, who looks set to leave The Hawthorns in the summer after failing to agree on a new deal with the Baggies.
The 23-year-old has become known as something of a controversial character but he is a goalscorer and that is something that Bilic and the Hammers need.
