It has been a very quiet summer at Upton Park with very little transfer activity to talk about. West Ham struggled with persistent long term injuries last season and Manager Alan Curbishley will be hoping that things have improved a lot this time around. Indeed the return of the likes of Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy, Julian Faubert and Scot Parker from injury will feel like three new players once they are back in the team.

The most notable piece of business that West Ham have done in the summer is the signing of Valon Behrami. The midfielder joins from Italian club Lazio for around £5 Million. Apart from that, Curbishley has only signed two relatively unknown players. Goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka joins on a season long loan from Shakhtar Donetsk. The 26 year has previously played in the Premier League for Fulham briefly in 2006. Highly rated Hungarian youngster Balint Bajner has also signed for an undisclosed fee after impressing on trial.

Leaving Upton Park this summer is goalkeeper Richard Wright. The former Arsenal and Everton goalkeeper has returned to his first club Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee. The Hammers have also sold Ghanaian defender John Paintsil and striker Bobby Zamora to Fulham for a combined fee of £6.3 Million. Curbishley has also decided to release a few notable players. Noberto Solano has left the club and has since signed for Greek team Larissa. Freddie Ljungberg has also departed after just twelve months at the club after agreeing to a termination of his contract.

The prospects for West Ham this season are difficult to assess. They have the potential to break into the top eight of the Premier League, but likewise if they continue to suffer from long term injuries to key players then they could easily find themselves in a relegation battle. For most supporters, another solid season of stability and a mid-table finish would be acceptable this time around.