The West Ham board have spoken with a verdict on the club’s end to the season and made it clear what’s next ahead of a crucial summer transfer window.
Graham Potter is under no illusions what needs to be done at West Ham this summer.
The Hammers boss may be taking a break with family now but he says he very much intends to be working on summer signings wherever he goes.
Potter delivered an exciting West Ham transfer update before heading off for his summer holiday.
In it he revealed head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay has been busy lining up targets and deals.
Potter plans holiday work as focus turns to West Ham transfers
The manager has shown a ruthless streak few believed he had in recent weeks.
On Potter’s say so, West Ham have released three key long-serving senior stars as part of a group of six who have been moved out.
Veteran striker Michail Antonio could be next ahead of a host of sales to raise funds for signings.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Potter has stated he wants to trim down West Ham’s bloated squad while lowering the average age significantly.
Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
The Hammers boss says carrying a 26-man squad of senior players has been one of the root causes of West Ham’s poor form and loss of identity.
The squad has already been trimmed to 20 players with at least another five or six set to depart and eyes on at least five signings to leave Potter with his desired squad size of 19-20 senior players.
West Ham did at least end the Premier League campaign on a positive note by beating Ipswich Town 3-1 at Portman Road.
Although the performance, like many from West Ham both before and since Potter’s appointment, was unconvincing.
Potter admitted as much himself after the game and said his focus now turns to the summer window, which opens this Sunday, June 1.
West Ham board deliver verdict and what’s next ahead of window
The Hammers then have three months, until the start of September, to rebuild the squad ready for what’s expected to be one of the most competitive Premier League seasons for many years.
Now the West Ham board has delivered their verdict on the end to the season and what’s next ahead of the window.
A brilliant assist and even better goal from Jarrod Bowen twice put the Irons in the lead at already relegated Ipswich.
Substitute Mohammed Kudus then secured the three points with his own fine strike.
The victory ensured the Hammers finished above Man United, Wolves and Spurs.
But all three are now set to improve their squads and West Ham know they must do the same.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
‘Work to do’ say West Ham owners as focus shifts to window
The board were pleased with what they saw at Ipswich after a torrid campaign.
However, they are managing expectations about the approach for the summer transfer window – making it clear patience may be needed from fans.
“Our quality finally started to show through at Ipswich, it was pleasing to end a difficult season on a positive,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
“Now our full focus and all our energy turns to the transfer window. There is work to do.
“With no money under FFP and PSR rules until we sell some players, we are going to have to be very clever this summer.”
All fans want to see their club go out and spend big every window.
After four years of significant spending West Ham simply cannot do that this time around.
That is a worry given the improvements that are needed and where the Hammers finished in the table.
Especially with Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland set to make the top flight a lot more challenging next term.
But West Ham being forced to do more diligent, coherent, thoughtful and sustainable transfer business focusing on young talent may actually be a blessing in disguise.
It is arguably what the club should have been doing for years.
Now they have no choice, fans can only hope Potter, Macaulay and David Sullivan prove to be the right mix to get it right.