West Ham fans may finally get what they have wanted for years this summer window.
After a false dawn under the ‘pearl diver’ Tim Steidten, Graham Potter has his own pearl diver on the case now at West Ham.
In Steidten’s first – and only – window in full control of West Ham’s recruitment, he got things horribly wrong.
Not all of the acquisitions were bad of course.
But he made poor decisions regarding the profile of player and which areas needed strengthening.
Steidten also made the mistake of allowing Julen Lopetegui a big say in some deals – such as Guido Rodriguez and Carlos Soler – which have not worked out at all.
The signing of 18-year-old Luis Guilherme for a staggering £20.5m looks more bizarre with every passing week.
Especially as West Ham could have signed Jhon Duran with that money added to the £26.5m paid for ageing and injury-prone forward Niclas Fullkrug.
After promising to rebuild the club around young, talented stars following the signing of Guilherme, Steidten proceeded to take the Premier League’s second oldest squad and make it the oldest.
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He and Lopetegui have rightly paid for West Ham’s disastrous season with their jobs.
Potter and Macaulay plot West Ham’s summer overhaul
Now Potter has his own recruitment guru on the case.
West Ham paid Chelsea £1.2m to reunite Kyle Macaulay with Potter at the London Stadium.
It could end up being the best value for money since Craig Dawson.
Because if reports are accurate, Macaulay’s summer overhaul plans are exactly what West Ham fans have craved for years.
Six exciting targets being lined up by Macaulay have been named.
And the best news is, unless you are a football anorak, you may not have heard of some of them.
That proves West Ham are finally looking to sign young, emerging talents to bring much needed energy and dynamism to the side.
Not to mention the possibility they can be sold on for big profits in the future given how important PSR has become in the modern game.
Photo by ARNAUD FINISTRE/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by ARNAUD FINISTRE/AFP via Getty Images
West Ham still want Emanuel Emegha
Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed to Hammers News that West Ham remain interested in Dutch Under 21 striker Emanuel Emegha.
Towering 6ft 5in Strasbourg striker Emegha was on West Ham’s radar in the January window.
Bailey says nothing has changed and the Hammers very much remain interested in Emegha.
That should perhaps be no great surprise. Because Emegha’s club are owned by BlueCo, a consortium led by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
And where has Macaulay just come from? Precisely.
A rangy, powerful and pacy striker, Emegha has scored 11 in 22 this season.
Hammers eye Hakon Arnar Haraldsson
Another young star reportedly on West Ham’s radar is Iceland’s 21-year-old attacking midfielder Hakon Arnar Haraldsson.
There has been a lot of talk about the club’s interest in Lille’s soon-to-be free agent duo Jonathan David and Angel Gomes.
Well Macaulay and co also hold a ‘significant’ interest in 19-capped Haraldsson an agent source close to the club has confirmed to Hammers News.
The interest in Haraldsson, who has six goals and two assists in just 17 starts this season, was reported first on Hammers site KUMB as well as YouTube channel Hammers Chat.
Another young striker being linked with the Hammers is Franculino Dju.
The 19-year-old Guinean-Bissau forward plays for Danish side FC Midtjylland – from whom West Ham signed Winston Reid.
A left-footed forward, Dju joined the Danes from Benfica in two years ago and is known for his strong, athletic frame, ability to hold up the ball and pace – especially off the mark.
Hammers News understands Dju is one of several young striker targets on Macaulay and Potter’s list, as originally reported by The West Ham Way’s ExWHUemployee.
No more transfer Groundhog Day as Hammers look at Hogsberg
Dju isn’t the only Danish-based player in West Ham’s sights, though, according to the same report.
Lucas Hogsberg, an 18-year-old right-back at Nordsjælland – from whom West Ham wanted to sign Ibrahim Osman last year before Brighton hijacked the deal.
This has been the Denmark Under 19 international’s true breakthrough season at his club having made his first team debut a couple of seasons ago as a 16-year-old.
Hogsberg would face a tough task getting in West Ham’s first team ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka of course.
But it is encouraging to see the Hammers finally looking to fill back-up positions with top quality emerging talent.
Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images
Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images
West Ham want another Max at the back
West Ham scouts have been watching Burnley centre-back Maxime Esteve.
That’s according to reliable journalist Alan Nixon.
In an exclusive reveal on his Patreon, Nixon – a reporter for The Sun – reckons AC Milan are sniffing around the interest is new, with the 24-year-old, 6ft 4in French defender.
Potter likes to play three at the back and it has been widely reported he wants a new defender to slot in alongside Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo.
Nixon states the Hammers have been watching Esteve since Macaulay and Potter’s arrival.
And West Ham are hoping Burnley miss out on promotion to make their task of signing Esteve easier. Although rivals Everton are also interested.
Esteve has been an ever-present for the Clarets as they set a new Championship record of 27 clean sheets in the 2-0 win over Swansea at the weekend.
West Ham want first Dibs on Tyler
The Hammers have been linked with Southampton star Tyler Dibling in recent months.
The trouble is so have the likes of Man United, Chelsea and Spurs.
Dibling has showcased his talent in spurts for the soon-to-be relegated Saints, with whom West Ham have done several deals in recent years.
The 19-year-old is the kind of young, gifted star Hammers fans love. A player in the Joe Cole mode in the way he glides past the opposition.
Football Transfers claim West Ham are serious about Dibling as part of their youthful overhaul.
And the report states that the Hammers hope moving quickly as soon as the window opens will help them beat rival suitors to his signature.
Not to mention a greater guarantee of game time at West Ham.