Bilic confirms West Ham close to securing new arrival, compares business to Everton
By Danny Wright
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed that the east London club are close to completing their second signing of the summer.
The Irons have been one of the least active Premier League teams in the transfer window so far, with local rivals Tottenham the only club to not secure a new signing.
Everton have been the most active, and Bilic hasn’t shied away from comparing West Ham’s sole signing to their vast array of new faces which include Wayne Rooney and Jordan Pickford.
Pablo Zabaleta is Bilic’s only recruit of the summer at the moment after he completed a free transfer to the London Stadium following his release from Manchester City.
West Ham fans have started to become agitated by the lack of activity but the Croatian boss has issued some encouraging news about what is on the horizon.
“We are pretty close, but I prefer not to talk transfers, I prefer to work transfers,” said Bilic, as quoted by West Ham’s official website.
“Make no mistake, we are working hard every day, but it is not easy. Some clubs, like Everton, are signing a lot of players, some are signing a couple of players, and some haven’t signed any.
“But that doesn’t mean they are not trying. I’m sure everybody is working, and everybody is trying to sign players.”
While Bilic hasn’t said who the Hammers might be close to signing, Sky Sports has recently reported that they could be on the verge of raiding Man City for another one of their outcasts with England goalkeeper Joe Hart nearing a switch to east London.
West Ham suffered quite a poor season last time out and will be hoping to make big improvements in the upcoming Premier League campaign.
They are notably short of options in the left-back area and up front, although Bilic looks to be more intent on bolstering his goalkeeping options first.
In other West Ham news, the Irons could be on the verge of signing an attacker as they plot a third bid for this proven top-flight ace.
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