The move from Upton Park to The London Stadium for West Ham may not have gone too smoothly in the early stages, with trouble both in the stands and on the pitch marring what was supposed to be a step into a new era for the club.

The move was meant to signify the club stamping their authority on the international stage as one of the front runners in English football. The move to a lavish 60,000 seater stadium is only the start, the club underwent a full scale re-brand, with the addition of ‘London’ to a new crest no coincidence.

The powers that be in Stratford are keen on making a splash across the globe and making themselves synonymous with the capital in both the Asian and American markets.

Alongside all the branding, they must also kick things up a gear on the pitch in order to keep the fans that turn out week in, week out, filling their new home.

Whilst that may not have gone to plan this season, with a disappointing Premier League campaign coupled with poor performances in both domestic and continental cups, there have been sure signs that manager Slaven Bilic can make this work with some canny additions over the summer.

However, with the mistakes of last summer’s window fresh in their minds as well as the departure of Dimitri Payet, the club are in need of a marquee signing over the coming months to fit their elevated stature.

With that in mind, one deal which has been mooted ahead of the summer market opening in July was a swoop for out of favour Manchester United skipper, Wayne Rooney.

The Red Devils’ all time top goalscorer, having bagged his 250th for the club earlier this season to surpass Bobby Charlton, has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford since the arrival of Jose Mourinho and looks to be on his way this summer after 13 years of servitude in the red half of Manchester.

While the England captain is past his best years, a deal to bring him to east London would be more than a coup for the Hammers and will send a message to those around the world that they mean business. The former Everton youngster can certainly still deliver on the pitch, however, it’s what the deal would do for future transfer business that will mean most to the board in Stratford.

Having hypothetically landed a deal for the United man, the recruiters can then head out into negotiations and simply point at that one deal and say, ‘If we’re good enough for Wayne Rooney, why shouldn’t you join?’

Not all fans would be on board with a deal for Rooney, however, given the effect it could have on future dealings, it would be a significant step into that new era.