West Ham United should have made more summer signings as they still have problems when it comes to squad depth, according to journalist Paul Brown.
Who did the Hammers sign?
West Ham were among the Premier League's top spenders during the summer transfer window, forking out more than £63million on fresh faces.
However, the Hammers only spent big on two players, starting with central defender Kurt Zouma's £29.8million arrival from London rivals Chelsea.
Nikola Vlasic then completed a move worth up to £34.5million from Russian side CSKA Moscow on deadline day.
The east Londoners splashed the cash after already making Craig Dawson's loan switch from Watford permanent, while Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Alphonse Areola joined on a season-long loan deal which has the view to being made permanent.
Like Vlasic, Czech Republic international Alex Kral headed to the Premier League on the final day of the transfer window, with his move having the possibility of being made permanent following a season-long loan.
What has Paul Brown said about West Ham's squad?
Brown believes Hammers boss David Moyes should have welcomed further reinforcements to the London Stadium before the end of last month.
However, the journalist thinks Vlasic and Zouma will prove to be inspired signings.
Brown told GMS: "Squad depth has always been a problem.
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"There's still little holes in the squad where you think they could be deeper.
"But I think signing people like Vlasic and Zouma has certainly helped."
Has West Ham's lack of strength in depth been exposed?
Moyes was forced into playing with a false nine against Manchester United at the weekend.
The alteration came after Michail Antonio, the club's only senior striker, was suspended following his sending off in the goalless stalemate at Southampton eight days earlier.
It surely highlighted the Hammers should have brought in another frontman while the transfer market remained open, having reportedly turned down opportunities to sign Tammy Abraham, Alassane Plea, Luuk de Jong and Odsonne Edouard during the summer.
West Ham's defeat to Manchester United felt even worse as Jesse Lingard, who Moyes wanted to sign permanently after a loan spell which included nine goals in 16 appearances last season, came off the bench to score a late winner.
Defensively, the east Londoners plumped for Zouma, who had initially turned down a move to the London Stadium due to failing to agree a wage package, after showing an interest in Fiorentina centre-half Nikola Milenkovic.