The West Ham board have issued a major transfer update one week into the full summer window as fans raise concerns over a lack of activity.
Hammers News exclusive
With expectations high and fans eager for signs of summer transfer window life, the message from West Ham provides some clarity on where things stand and what to expect.
It is now less than two weeks until West Ham’s players return for pre-season training.
Hammers boss Graham Potter signed off last season promising an “exciting and interesting” transfer window.
There is plenty of time for that to be the case.
But some West Ham supporters are feeling uneasy about the lack of activity given the rebuild that is required.
By Potter’s own admission, the Hammers need an overhaul.
West Ham fans getting frustrated over lack of transfers
The jury is out on the 50-year-old and he wants to trim down West Ham’s squad, which he feels is too bloated with senior players for a side not competing in Europe.
With the start of pre-season now very much on the horizon, it’s clear Potter is not going to have what he stated would be his “ideal” scenario of getting new arrivals in the door early so he could work with them ahead of the new campaign.
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That has rarely been the case for the Hammers in years gone by of course, so is nothing new. But one look at Potter’s old club Brighton shows how it should be done with four quality young stars already signed, sealed and delivered.
The Premier League is expected to be fiercely competitive next season.
Leeds United are back and are spending ambitiously with a reported £100m plus budget.
Many are tipping West Ham to struggle again, and potentially be relegated to the Championship.
Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay want to revamp the team and squad around young, hungry, dynamic players.
Graham Potter during Brighton and Hove Albion FC v West Ham United FC in the Premier League
Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
West Ham have long made it clear they must sell to buy.
But last week the club gave frustrated fans hope that they could make some signings before offloading players in the knowledge they would be bringing a certain amount of cash through sales.
Take Mohammed Kudus for example, who West Ham are banking on selling for around £65m.
The Hammers know that, worst case scenario, they will get at the very least around £50-55m for Kudus – so money will be coming in.
Throw in minimum expectations for around five to six other players the club is looking to sell and the figure raised in sales will be at least £75m.
If West Ham get their desired fees for the likes of Kudus, Nayef Aguerd and several others it will be closer to £100m.
West Ham board issue transfer update one week into full window
And if Lucas Paqueta is cleared of spot-fixing and – as expected – sold, then that will boost the figure even further still.
So the club know there will be money coming in and the Hammers stated last week ‘anything is possible’.
Now the West Ham board have issued a major transfer update one week into the full summer window.
It has been clear for some time that signing a striker and midfielders is the Hammers’ top priority this summer.
But the release of Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski means a versatile full-back and goalkeeper are also musts.
It is thought Potter wants a new centre-back too with Konstantinos Mavropanos available for sale.
West Ham United manager Graham Potter during a Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest
Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images
The summer window has been extended this year due to the FIFA Club World Cup. It opened on June 1st before closing on June 10th for six days.
Today marks one week since the full summer transfer window opened.
West Ham made that point to supporters last week, telling them ‘not to panic’ and that the actual window is very much in its infancy.
With supporters concerned over a lack of movement both in and out, Hammers News reached out to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners about the situation.
The Hammers board were asked whether there has been any progress on the transfer front – in or out.
It was also put to the club whether there is hope West Ham might have some deals done by pre-season.
‘Never say never’ Hammers make admission over three signings
“Who knows,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.
“We’re working very hard in all directions.”
The Hammers hierarchy were then asked whether five to six signings was still the ultimate aim for the summer window with a striker, two midfielders, a centre-back, full-back and goalkeeper the positions in need of strengthening.
“I’d settle for three right now!” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
“But never say never.”
Much will depend on how many and which players are offloaded of course.
Supporters will be hoping the board are being conservative in that statement.
And of course it depends on the quality of the signings made.
If West Ham do only end up signing three players but they are excellent additions who completely change how the team plays then that is the right way to go about things – quality over quantity.
The club went for quantity last summer – and under Manuel Pellegrini – and it failed miserably on both occasions, as flooding a squad with new players often does.
Although two new West Ham arrivals will be confirmed next Tuesday which strengthen the midfield and forward line.