While West Ham may have been slightly disappointed to miss out on a top six finish last season (Manchester United claimed sixth place despite having their worst season in 30 years), there remains considerable optimism that 2022/23 could see the Hammers improve on this performance.
This is despite the arrival of Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, and the further strengthening of the playing squads at Arsenal and Tottenham (who finished in fifth and fourth respectively at the end of last season).
Ultimately, West Ham finished seventh last season and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, while they’ve also strengthened their squad in the pre-season. So, let’s take a look at the best West Ham betting markets ahead of the new season:
West Ham United to Win the League, 150/1
While the Hammers’ summer business has been quiet so far, the addition of Moroccan centre back Nayef Aguerd from Rennes has significantly strengthened the backline.
What’s more, the club has secured goalkeeper Alphonso Areola’s services for another five years, while being continually linked with Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse and free agent Jesse Lingard.
Because of this, and the club’s impressive exploits last season, West Ham are priced at 150/1 to win the Premier League next season. Such odds may seem relatively high, but not when you consider that the Hammers have never won the Premier League and their last major honour (the FA Cup) came in 1980.
You can bet with 1XBet that West Ham will win the league next season, although we’d recommend backing this outcome with a relatively small stake.
West Ham to Finish in the Top Four, 16/1
West Ham’s highest league finish came in the 1985/86 season, when the club finished third in the top flight and just four points behind eventual champions Liverpool.
But could the Hammers go close to replicating this in the 2022/23 season? Well, West Ham have certainly proved their ability to compete against the biggest clubs last season, beating Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea at home while also holding champions Manchester City in the penultimate game of the campaign.
However, the Hammers would have to perform consistently better than at least some of these sides over the course of the season to finish fourth, which may prove to be a challenge unless they’re able to significantly improve their squad further.
This is why they’re priced at around 16/1 to finish in the top four and claim a UCL place, although these odds may offer value to hard-core Hammers’ fans.
West Ham to Finish in the Top Six, 9/2
West Ham last finished in the top six two years ago, following an impressive campaign that saw the club challenge for a place in the top four for much of the season.
However, both Arsenal and Spurs have improved markedly since then, while Manchester United’s ability to finish sixth and above the Hammers last season despite their obvious inadequacies will make the idea of breaking into the top six this time around seem fanciful to some.
However, the bookies have made the Hammers 9/2 to finish in the top six this season, which seems relatively competitive given the strength of the sides above them.
However, we’d recommend holding fire before placing this bet, to see if West Ham can strengthen their playing squad further in the near-term.
