Best money with smart-spending West Ham to be top promoted club

West Ham have significantly strengthened their squad this summer, and look good to build on a third-place Championship finish of last season.

Under the guidance of the experienced Sam Allardyce, the Hammers appear great value at 1/1 to finish highest of the three promoted sides in the Premier League.

While supporters’ concerns were initially founded over the release of certain players, Rob Green in particular, smart transfer dealings have left West Ham looking very healthy again.

Jussi Jaaskelainen, who has played close to 500 Premier League games, was brought in as Green’s replacement to begin with, linking up with Allardyce as the pair did at Bolton.

George McCartney and Mohamed Diame also signed to bring added top-flight experience, while dominant defender James Collins has made a return to East London too.

The £5m signing of Sochaux’s Modibo Maiga has also gone some way to stir up the Hammers faithful, and rumblings of Andy Carroll’s imminent arrival bode well too.

Punters should also consider West Ham’s vast experience in English football’s elite league meanwhile, with the club having spent 17 of the last 20 years as a Premier League side.

This, along with Allardyce’s experience as a top level manager, stands them in good stead to embark upon an impressive campaign this term, one superior to their fellow promoted sides.

Also encouraging is Allardyce’s record when in charge of a Premier League club for a prolonged length of time.

Indeed, as Bolton boss, the 57-year-old steered his side to four top-half finishes in six top-flight seasons, including a sixth place standing that saw the Trotters into Europe.

He also achieved a top-half finish in his only full season as Blackburn Rovers manager, and so his credentials are undoubted in English football’s top tier.

That past experience could prove invaluable for the Hammers this year, and see them achieve a higher finish than 2/1 Southampton, and 5/2 Reading.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.