West Ham supporters in the Transfer Tavern are very much looking forward to the new era at the London Stadium following the appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as the new Hammers manager last month.

The Chilean takes over the reins at the East London outfit following the departure of David Moyes, who left the club at the expiration of his contract despite leading the Hammers to a 13th place finish in the Premier League. However, the club’s hierarchy decided against extending his stay as manager and have instead drafted in former Manchester City chief Pellegrini, who led the Citizens to the league title, and indeed two League Cup triumphs, during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

As such, there are many excited and indeed expectant West Ham fans in the Tavern at present, several of whom are likely to be interested by recent reports suggesting that Danny Ings is free to leave Liverpool this summer.

And with the Hammers struggling in the striking department last season, Pellegrini would solve a key problem at the London Stadium with the addition of the available £7.2 million-rated star (as per Transfermarkt).

Ultimately, while West Ham didn’t have the worst offensive record in the top-flight last term, they will have to improve upon their tally of 48 goals in their 38 Premier League games if they are to move forward and perhaps challenge for the European spots this time round.

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Marko Arnautovic was the only man to reach double figures last season in netting 11 times for the Hammers, which itself further emphasises their difficulties, as does the fact that Andre Ayew, who left the club in January to move to Swansea City, finished as their third highest goal-scorer with six.

Thus, Pellegrini has to address that this summer if he is to take the East London club to the next level, and 25-year-old Ings could well give him the answer.

The one-time England international has only mustered 24 senior appearances for Liverpool since his move there back in 2015, with injuries decimating his time at Anfield after what was a promising spell at Burnley to earn him a move to Merseyside.

Nonetheless, one mustn’t forget that Ings scored 11 goals in 35 Premier League appearances for the Clarets back in the 2014/15 season to underline his credentials in the top-flight, with that return in particular earning him that solitary England cap in the autumn of 2015.

Yes, there will be obvious concerns among our resident Hammers fans given that Ings has not played much football in the last few years, but he certainly looked sharp in the latter stages of last season when turning out for Liverpool, and showed a predatory instinct in front of goal at Burnley which is unlikely to ever leave him.

As such, with the East London outfit clearly in need of further attacking reinforcements, alongside Ings’ desire to leave Liverpool, Pellegrini must seek to solve a key West Ham problem by capturing the 25-year-old this summer.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!