Potter will want to overhaul his squadPotter will want to overhaul his squad
Potter will want to overhaul his squad | AFP via Getty Images
West Ham could lose a key player or two this summer as Graham Potter looks to improve his squad.
West Ham face the possibility of losing at least one of their key players this summer after what has been a disastrous campaign. The Hammers are currently sat in 15th place and with just 40 points, fortunate to have escaped involvement in a relegation battle this season.
Julen Lopetegui was sacked around halfway through the season, and things have not improved under Graham Potter. But Potter came in under the understanding that he would get the summer to build his own squad. As a result, Potter will be judged on next season’s results, albeit he will surely be walking a shorter line based on the disappointments of this campaign.
“I touched on this in my match report on Sunday,” wrote Stone. “Clearly, the much-hyped recruitment campaign under Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui last summer went badly wrong. Aaron Wan-Bissaka did well and Max Kilman was OK but Crysencio Summerville, Guido Rodriguez, Luis Guilherme and Niclas Fullkrug failed to reach the heights expected on a consistent basis.
“Evan Ferguson came in as an answer to striking issues in the winter window, but couldn't establish himself. Now, West Ham need to find a way of funding Graham Potter's squad-building plans because the Declan Rice money has gone, there is no European football, and West Ham's league position is costing them Premier League prize money.With Lucas Paqueta's future still uncertain, selling Mohammed Kudus is now a distinct possibility.
“The massive concern for me is around skipper Jarrod Bowen. West Ham could get a lot of money for him, but he feels like someone you build a squad around. Head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay will be a key figure in identifying potential targets, having worked with Potter since his days in Sweden. I would think more dynamism in midfield will be a major aim, as well as a consistent goalscorer.”
Kudus has struggled this season, but it’s obvious that his form has been impacted by the performances of the whole team. With that in mind, it may not be the best time for West Ham to sell Kudus, but if the player wants out, likely wanting to play European football, there could be a tough situation lying in wait for the Irons.
Potter on West Ham’s transfer plans
When initially asked about West Ham’s transfer plans, Potter got fans excited by saying: “It’s going to be an exciting summer.” But he later provided a more measured response, saying: “The club invested quite a lot of money in the summer, but if you look at a lot of those players, how many have consistently been playing. As I always say, with any squad I think you always have to think ‘we’re here where we are and now how do you build to get to where you want to be’.
“Again it’s about working together, working with the club, making good decisions, being responsible. I think in every window, your responsibility is to try to improve the team. And that will continue. We have to make some decisions to be able to improve that (the way we play and where we are in the table), because no-one wants to be where we are now that’s for sure.”
He continued: “In my job at Brighton we took a team from fourth from bottom up the table, so we know it can be done. It isn’t a click of the fingers and everything’s OK, but that’s the challenge, and that’s what we’re here to do.”
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