It’s fair to say the current season has been a struggle for West Ham, who have found life difficult since decamping to the London Stadium from Upton Park.
The Hammers have hovered in or around the relegation zone for much of the campaign, although recent back-to-back victories have eased the pressure on Slaven Bilic.
West Ham are sure to be big spenders in the January transfer window as they seek to improve their position in the Premier League.
Here are three players we think could make a huge difference to their fortunes…
Chris Smalling
The departure of James Tomkins to Crystal Palace last summer has left a void in West Ham’s defence that has not been filled.
Only three teams have a worse defensive record than the Hammers, who need to recruit a quality centre-back as a matter of urgency.
Smalling may sound an ambitious target, but West Ham have already demonstrated this year that they have money available to spend.
The 27-year-old England international has fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho, with Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo all in front of him.
If, as expected, Victor Lindelof arrives from Benfica this January, Smalling’s first team opportunities will be limited even further.
A return to his native London could be just the tonic, while his abilities on and off the ball would complement West Ham’s style of play.