West Ham 2023/24 season preview: Key players, summer transfers, squad numbers & predictions

2022/23 long looked like it'd be a campaign of woe for West Ham United, but a late domestic surge helped them escape the drop before their season ended with silverware in Prague.

Jarrod Bowen's late winner against Fiorentina secured the Hammers their first European title since 1965 as they were crowned Europa Conference League champions. It was the highest of highs for West Ham fans, but that night in Prague already feels a long way back in the rear view mirror.

The club have since parted ways with captain Declan Rice and there's a chance Lucas Paqueta could follow, with Manchester City sniffing around. But Edson Alvarez's arrival is welcome respite, with the Mexican set to be followed by both James Ward-Prowse and Harry Maguire - two potentially good, steady signings for David Moyes.

Here's 90min's preview of West Ham's 2023/24 season.

West Ham's performance last five seasons

Summer transfers

Ins:

• Edson Alvarez (MF) - Ajax - undisclosed

Outs:

• Declan Rice (MF) - Arsenal - £105m
• Gianluca Scamacca (FW) - Atalanta - £26m
• Nikola Vlasic (FW) - Torino - £10m
• Arthur Masuaku (DF) - Besiktas - £2m
• Manuel Lanzini (MF) - River Plate - free

Squad numbers

*Numbers subject to change before end of transfer window

Key players

Star player

With Rice now strutting his stuff in north London, a new star must emerge and the onus will once again be on Conference League hero Jarrod Bowen in the final third.

The Hammers are bound to bolster in defence and midfield before the window closes, but it remains to be seen who'll be leading their line this season. Nevertheless, Bowen's status as the club's outstanding right-winger won't be challenged and Moyes will lean on the England international for a source of creativity and goals.

His Premier League production dwindled last season after he notched an impressive 24 goal contributions in 2021/22. It looks as if West Ham will need Bowen to produce those sorts of figures again if they're to climb up the table.

One to watch

Nayef Aguerd's debut season at West Ham was hindered by a long-term injury, but once he entered the fold in east London, the defender emerged as one of the club's most reliable performers.

Tall, positionally sound, and a silky customer in possession, Aguerd looks to have been a fine coup from the Hammers, and he'll be hoping to kick on from an individual perspective in 2023/24.

He could develop into a leader in the West Ham defence, and he may well have a new centre-back partner in the form of Harry Maguire. While Maguire's Man Utd career crashed and burned, he has a great chance for resurrection alongside the cool and composed Moroccan.

2023/24 kits

Home kit

Away kit

Premier League prediction

There are several concerns regarding West Ham heading into 2023/24, even though Rice's void appears it will now be filled by Alvarez, Ward-Prowse and potentially more. They lack dynamism going forward because of the style of play implemented by Moyes, and their lack of creative spark sometimes plays them out of games they are good enough to compete in.

There's also an ongoing question mark over where the Hammers' goals are going to come from. Michail Antonio didn't really fire last season so the pressure is on him to deliver again at the age of 33, while Bowen is another who must up his game.

Nevertheless, West Ham shouldn't get dragged into the relegation scrap, providing they don't get off to a shocking start, and they have Europa League fun to look forward to. Their business between now and September 1 could be key in determining just how well they do.

West Ham 2023/24 Premier League prediction - 13th

READ MORE OF 90MIN'S SEASON PREVIEWS: A-F

READ MORE OF 90MIN'S SEASON PREVIEWS: L-W