West Ham has not been a great place to be over the last 18 months and that is why Graham Potter is trying to ring the changes and cultivate a new culture.
The Hammers have been nothing short of a mess since word got out David Moyes was not signing a new contract.
West Ham were flying high in the top six – one win off the top four – when the Scot refused the terms of a new contract and it was subsequently withdrawn.
Former Hammers assistant Kevin Nolan says the Moyes contract situation completely derailed West Ham.
Under the Scot, Julen Lopetegui and now Graham Potter, West Ham have won just 15 of their last 57 Premier League matches since a 2-0 victory at Arsenal on December 28 2023.
With the Premier League expected to be the most competitive it has been in years next season, the Hammers cannot afford to continue their alarming regression.
Potter wants to change West Ham culture in rebuild
Potter has struggled to convince at West Ham so far. But in fairness he inherited – by his own admission – a mess, not just in terms of the team but the culture too.
Potter recently warned his Hammers squad ‘if you won’t change, I’ll change you’.
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The 50-year-old was alluding to the fact he has tried but failed to shift the mentality and attitude among many in his squad.
Several West Ham players had flare-ups with his predecessor, most notably Jean-Clair Todibo and Mohammed Kudus.
Potter himself had a very public disagreement with Niclas Fullkrug and is said to have had issues with Emerson Palmieri and Edson Alvarez too.
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When Moyes came back to West Ham for a second spell, the first thing he did was address the culture.
‘If you don’t run, you won’t play’ was the Scot’s very simple instruction highlighting the minimum expectation from every player in the squad.
Until the culture is addressed by Potter with a big turnaround in players this summer transfer window, West Ham can’t be expected to improve on the pitch.
Potter has stated he wants to use younger players who often ‘give that something extra’ in terms of enthusiasm and desire.
Moving players on is just as key, though.
Not only to shift the mentality but to quite literally raise funds to make his own signings.
West Ham duo take matters into own hands to force moves
As well as Kudus, the Hammers are banking on selling a number of other players to raise transfer cash.
The list includes Lucas Paqueta – if he is cleared of spot-fixing – Nayef Aguerd, Emerson, Guido Rodriguez and Fullkrug to name but a few.
Now two stars are clearly so desperate to get out of West Ham they’ve taken matters into their own hands.
And it may not actually be a bad thing for Potter given the circumstances.
West Ham are looking to sign a new centre-back this summer.
There was talk when Potter came in that he wanted to reintegrate Aguerd into his plans after a season on loan at Real Sociedad.
Hammers News was the first to reveal Aguerd had no intention of returning to play for West Ham again.
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The 29-year-old centre-back enjoyed a decent spell with Sociedad where his attributes were much better suited to the slower, less physical Spanish game.
Sociedad and a number of other clubs have been linked with Aguerd, who West Ham want to sell for around £15-17m.
Hammers News understands claims that Aguerd has requested not to return to West Ham for pre-season if he is not sold before then are in fact true.
While there has been no suggestion the Moroccan would go on strike, it was his way of making clear he does not want to be at the club next season.
Aguerd is not the only one taking action to force through a move this summer.
Less than a year ago Kudus ditched agent Jennifer Mendelewitsch to be represented instead by ‘friends and family’.
Aguerd and Kudus actions may not be a bad thing for Hammers
It was seen as a clear move to try and secure a move away from the Hammers after his brilliant debut campaign.
Fast forward 11 months and Kudus is clearly growing impatient at a lack of progress over a Hammers exit.
Because The Sun claims he has now made the switch to the ROOF agency.
ROOF has negotiated some of world football’s most high-profile transfers and lists a host of Liverpool and Arsenal stars among its clientele.
Chelsea are being heavily linked with Kudus, who also reportedly has interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Spurs and Man United.
The Ghanaian wants Champions League football at his next club.
And West Ham would prefer not to sell to rivals Spurs.
There appears to have been a potential major breakthrough which means Kudus joining Chelsea from West Ham seems the most likely outcome.
Whether ROOF can now help grease the wheels on what is the key transfer for West Ham’s summer plans remains to be seen.
While it’s never nice to see players so desperate to leave a great club like West Ham, it is clearly in Potter’s best interests in light of the financial situation and – just as importantly – the culture.