“Times is hard” at London Stadium, we are told. There’s not much in the transfer kitty apparently and West Ham need new strikers, new midfielders and new goal keepers. Graham Potter, having fixed the defence and reduced the numbers of ‘goals against’ scored by opponents may be tempted by the ‘zero additional cost’ option to strengthen the starting trio at the back.
Jean-Clair Todibo still has to be paid for, the loan- to-buy obligation with Nice meaning the balance of the £35 million agreed needs to change hands this summer. Max Kilman was a £40 million signing and the cheapest of the lot Aaron Wan Bissaka was a £15 million steal from Manchester United.
The missing piece of the jigsaw is the ‘third man’ – the Mavropanos upgrade.
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Widely reported now, Graham Potter has plans to bring one ‘paid for’ Hammer back in from the cold.
Givemesport.com are the latest in a long line to flag up the likelihood of Nayef Aguerd returning to be that third man in the back line at zero cost to Sullivan. Their article entitled
“Exclusive: Graham Potter Set to Hand Lifeline to Forgotten West Ham Player” has been a subject pretty widely discussed since Graham Potter’s arrival at West Ham.
The Moroccan was a Moyes purchase but a Lopetegui discard last summer on a season-long loan to Real Sociedad. So, not so much ‘new-look’ as ‘back to the future‘ then.
Aguerd is certainly an upgrade on Mavropanos – it remains to be seen whether Potter will sell the Greek, reportedly upgrading with Taylor Harwood Bellis.
With Emerson the latest to be linked with a sale, Ollie Scarles also can feel increasingly upbeat about his own prospects in a West Ham five at the back starting line up.
With zero financial outlay, the Hammers could start next season’s Premier League campaign in August with Wan-Bassaka at right wing back, Todibo, Kilman and Aguerd as a back three and Ollie Scarles as a left wing back.
Which would leave Mavropanos or his replacement and Cresswell as the ‘spares’- clearly insufficient cover with warrior Vlad Coufal finishing his contract in May.
With further rumours abounding of the Hammers likely going in for a ‘free’ ( less several millions in signing on fees, of course) signing of Kyle Walker-Peters from Southampton, a very presentable back line looks like taking shape for next season. Leaving transfer funds for other areas of the squad rebuild.