WEST HAM'S BIG SUMMER REVAMP FOR LOPETEGUI

CLUB TO BACK SPANIARD WITH UP TO SIX SIGNINGS AS PART OF NEW EUROPEAN-STYLE TRANSFER APPROACH

- Malik Ouzia

WEST HAM will target as many as six signings this summer as they look to give Julen Lopetegui major backing at the start of the club's new era.

Lopetegui has agreed to take over at the London Stadium when David Moyes leaves at the end of the season, though no formal announcement is expected until after his final game.

The Spaniard's arrival will see the Hammers continue their shift towards a European-style leadership structure, with technical director Tim Steidten to be given increased power to lead on transfers. Steidten arrived last summer, but there have been tensions between him and Moyes behind the scenes, including over transfer targets. Last week, the German was asked to stay away from the first-team squad for the remainder of the campaign while conducting the search for a new boss.

In consultation with Lopetegui, Steidten is set to lead a significant overhaul of the first-team squad, with a centre-forward, right-back and at least one new centre-half understood to be top of the agenda.