West Ham splashed £120million on seven new players last summer, and yet five months later they already need reinforcements.
Injuries, age, a betting probe and a car crash have held back the squad already this term, to the point it is a bit of a surprise to see them flying as high as 13th - a point and a place above Manchester United, and level with Tottenham.
Of this season’s recruits, £15m buy Aaron Wan-Bissaka has probably shone the brightest, while Max Kilman has impressed but also has a £40m price tag to live up to.