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West Ham: First choice XI for 2016-17

By Tom Bogert

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Mark Noble (16), Andy Carroll (9) and Dimitri Payet of West Ham United (27) celebrate victory after the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground on May 10, 2016 in London, England. West Ham United are playing their last ever home match at the Boleyn Ground after their 112 year stay at the stadium. The Hammers will move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2016-17 season. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 10: Mark Noble (16), Andy Carroll (9) and Dimitri Payet of West Ham United (27) celebrate victory after the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground on May 10, 2016 in London, England. West Ham United are playing their last ever home match at the Boleyn Ground after their 112 year stay at the stadium. The Hammers will move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2016-17 season. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) /
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BLACKBURN, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Slaven Bilic of West Ham United speaks to his captain Mark Noble during The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United at Ewood Park on February 21, 2016 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images)
BLACKBURN, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Slaven Bilic of West Ham United speaks to his captain Mark Noble during The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United at Ewood Park on February 21, 2016 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United via Getty Images) /

West Ham have confirmed a few shrewd signings this summer and their transfer business isn’t done yet. What is their first choice XI with new signings and heavily rumored transfer targets?

West Ham narrowly missed out on Champions League football after a 7th place finish in the Premier League last season. They missed out on fourth place by just four points.

It begs the question: what would have happened had Dimitri Payet been fit all season and didn’t need to miss about a quarter of the season due to an ankle injury?

It’s an interesting discussion, though obviously a frivolous one as we’ll never know. But that goes to show that Payet is now synonymous to West Ham from a neutral’s view. We barely got through two sentences before his name came up. It goes without saying how incredible of a signing the Frenchman has been for the Hammers.

Now, transitioning into their inaugural season in the Olympic Stadium in 2016-17, the club appear to be using last term as a springboard to future success rather than an aberration and an opportunity to cash in on their assets by selling high.

As fantastic as Payet has been, his value will likely never be higher than it is right now. Instead of cashing out, the board has doubled down thus far this summer in the transfer market. They’ve already confirmed Sofiane Feghouli, Havard Nordtviet and Gokhan Tore as new signings for this season.

Co-chairman David Sullivan has been persistent in his assertions that Payet is not for sale, even after his stellar Euros campaign for France. On top of that they’ve been linked with top strikers on the market, including Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, Carlos Bacca, Alexandre Lacazette and others. It looks like a marquee striker will be joining the club at Olympic Stadium next season.

Of course Batshuayi is off the market now, Benteke appears Crystal Palace bound and Lyon are desperately trying to keep hold of Lacazette at this juncture. But Bacca rumors have gained traction, and he may well be wearing claret and blue next season.

This is West Ham’s strongest XI for 2016-17, including heavily rumored transfer targets.

Players situated in a 4-2-2-2 formation.

Next: Goalie and central defenders

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