Five key areas West Ham must strengthen after Premier League relegation

West Ham United beat Leeds United 3-0 at the London Stadium on Sunday, but the result was not enough to prevent them from being relegated.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Everton condemned the Hammers to an 18th-place finish, ending their 15-year stay in the top-flight.

West Ham now face a fight to keep key players such as Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes. They need to raise £100 million from player sales.

Here are five areas they must strengthen to regain immediate promotion to the top-flight, without considering potential sales.

Goalkeeper

Mads Hermansen and Alphonse Areola made five errors leading to goals between them, highlighting the need to sign a new goalkeeper.

West Ham should consider selling one of the pair to fund a move for a new shot-stopper.

Centre-back

Axel Disasi enjoyed a decent loan spell at West Ham, but they are unlikely to sign him permanently after failing to beat the drop.

Jean-Clair Todibo is also likely to leave after his bust-up with manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

West Ham may have to sign at least two centre-backs if they fail to keep Disasi and Todibo beyond this summer.

Central midfield

The Hammers must sign a midfielder to replace Tomas Soucek. The Czech midfielder’s best years are behind him, although he chipped in with five goals this season.

Mohamadou Kante, Soungoutou Magassa and Freddie Potts have failed to impress. West Ham must sell at least one of them to fund a move for a new midfielder.

Winger

West Ham must sign at least one new winger, depending on Bowen and Crysencio Summerville’s futures.

Bowen and Summerville were two of their best players this season, but Nuno did not have a quality alternative to the duo.

Adama Traore joined in January to provide more threat from the flanks, but he failed to score in nine league games.

Centre-forward

Callum Wilson and January signing Pablo scored just two league goals between them, highlighting West Ham’s lack of a quality striker.

Wilson is likely to leave as a free agent, giving the Hammers an opportunity to sign a striker who could improve their fortunes in front of goal.