Graham Potter is getting an easy ride from West Ham fans so far but knows he needs to transform the team this summer.
Hammers News exclusive
If you thought last summer’s transfer window was big for West Ham, it won’t be a patch on this one.
West Ham are at a crossroads for the future of the entire club.
The Hammers have just lost to the only team which separates them and the relegation zone.
So any more missteps and regression next season could well result in a relegation battle.
West Ham stand at major crossroads in transfer window
This summer transfer window is pivotal for West Ham United and there will be another big turnaround in the squad.
Last summer saw a 21-player overhaul with 13 going out and nine coming in.
The club anticipates at least 16 ins and outs if not more this summer.
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Except there is no more wiggle room to make mistakes for Graham Potter, new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay and the board.
Player sales will be essential to West Ham making any signings.
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
The Hammers have plans to raise well over £100m in sales.
A large chunk of that, it is hoped, will come from offloading Mohammed Kudus.
Others such as Nayef Aguerd could add to Potter’s kitty too.
Except the Hammers boss threw a spanner in the works recently.
Potter wants to be frugal by bringing the Moroccan defender back to West Ham after a successful season-long loan at Real Sociedad.
Major Aguerd update for West Ham as Potter gets clear message
Potter cancelled James Ward-Prowse’s loan early to bring him back into the Hammers fold.
Although West Ham have been handed a rude Ward-Prowse awakening amid delusions over the midfielder.
It’s been reported Potter rates Aguerd and wants to bring him back for a second shot at the Premier League this summer.
Hammers News has been told previously it won’t be that simple for West Ham regarding Aguerd.
Earlier this month it was made clear Aguerd was against a Hammers return.
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
But the consistently poor performances of Konstantinos Mavropanos and the fact Jean-Clair Todibo is constantly breaking down with injury have led to speculation West Ham will not give Aguerd a choice.
There has been hope internally that Potter can persuade Aguerd to give it another crack after struggling badly in east London having been signed for a hugely inflated £30m.
Now there’s a major Aguerd update for West Ham as Potter receives a clear message.
Hammers News has spoken to two top sources about the Aguerd situation.
Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey, formerly of Sky Sports, has confirmed Potter’s wishes are not reciprocated.
‘It’s not you, it’s England’ Aguerd camp tells Potter
And it is nothing to do with the manager but rather the country itself.
“Potter would love to bring him back as he thinks he could fit, but the player does not want to come back to England,” Bailey told Hammers News.
Another source said if Sociedad don’t pay what West Ham want then there is always a possibility Aguerd ends up back in east London.
But that will be reluctantly as the source concurred with Bailey, stating: “The lad just doesn’t want to be in England, nothing to do with Potter.”
That may be bad news for Potter given his reported desire for the left-footed centre-back to return.
But Aguerd is probably saving the manager from himself.
Potter must move on and take the money
His style suits La Liga much more than the rough, tumble and pace of the Premier League.
Sometimes you just have to accept a player is not up to it in the world’s best league.
It sounds like Aguerd has accepted that and wants to move on – so Potter must follow suit.
The good news for the Hammers is that Estadio Deportivo have in the last week reaffirmed Real Sociedad do want to sign Aguerd on a permanent deal this summer.
If West Ham can get between £10-15m for him given his age then it will all help towards Potter’s summer warchest.
And goodness knows he’s going to need every single penny he can get.