• Julen Lopetegui reveals West Ham team news for Aston Villa opener

Julen Lopetegui has acknowledged that West Ham United might not be able to feature all of their new signings in their opening match against Aston Villa due to varying levels of pre-season preparation and fitness.

West Ham has been highly active in the summer transfer window, significantly strengthening their squad with several new additions. Jean-Clair Todibo, Maximilian Kilman, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have bolstered the defense, while Guido Rodriguez, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Guilherme, and Niclas Fullkrug have enhanced the options in midfield and attack. Wes Foderingham has also been brought in as an additional goalkeeper.

Despite these new signings likely becoming regulars, Lopetegui emphasized that caution will be exercised in integrating them into the team for the opener against Aston Villa. “Fortunately, we don’t have any bad news about injuries at the moment,” Lopetegui said. “We need to consider the preparation levels of players who joined us later.”

He continued, “We will have more information tomorrow. Right now, that’s all we know about the injuries. We are trying to wait until then and make a last-minute decision on the lineup.”

Lopetegui noted that some new signings might be more prepared than others. “We will see which of the new signings are ready. Others might need a bit more time,” he said.

Regarding Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Lopetegui mentioned, “He has played enough minutes in pre-season with Manchester United, but his first day with us was yesterday. We need to check them all tomorrow.”

West Ham’s match against Aston Villa, which is the late game on Saturday, will mark the beginning of a campaign that sees Villa competing in the Champions League following an impressive 2023/24 season under Unai Emery.

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Lopetegui shares West Ham team news for Villa opener.

West Ham United have officially announced the signing of Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund on a four-year contract.

The Hammers have reportedly paid around £27 million to secure the 31-year-old striker, marking the end of their search for a new star forward.

Our Hammer from Hanover 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/EdZXVmpE2q

— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 5, 2024

Fullkrug, who had been linked with Atletico Madrid and AC Milan, expressed his excitement about joining West Ham. “I’m delighted to be here, and I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with my new teammates,” he told the club’s channels. “I think the Premier League is the best league in the world, and for me, it is the right time to move over to England and play for a big Club like West Ham.”

Fullkrug mentioned his long-standing interest in West Ham and his familiarity with Technical Director Tim Steidten, with whom he shares history at Werder Bremen.

He also highlighted the appeal of playing under Head Coach Julen Lopetegui, stating that Lopetegui’s playing style is important to him and expressing confidence in his ability to perform and score goals under his guidance.

Fullkrug, who enjoys being close to supporters, looks forward to meeting the West Ham fans. He emphasized his current good form and eagerness to start playing for the team.

Füllkrug's first words 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/yJDTxTxfpz

— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 5, 2024

Fullkrug has gained recognition as one of the Bundesliga’s top strikers in recent years, despite blooming relatively late in his career.

He finished as the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 16 goals for Werder Bremen during the 2022/23 season before joining Dortmund for £12.8 million. At Dortmund, he played a key role in their run to the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League final, scoring 16 goals and providing 10 assists in 46 games across all competitions.

Nicknamed ‘Lucke’ for the gap in his teeth, Fullkrug has also made an impact on the international stage. He has scored 13 goals in 21 appearances for the Germany national team and was a standout player during their Euro 2024 campaign, where the hosts reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by eventual winners Spain.

West Ham United is delighted to announce the signing of Germany international centre-forward Niclas Füllkrug.

The prolific striker joins the Hammers from Borussia Dortmund on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 5, 2024

This post appeared first on Mp3bullet.ng... Read Original post on Niclas Fullkrug joins West Ham from Dortmund.