West Ham have launched a move to sign an exciting and versatile star Mikel Arteta wants at Arsenal – and Graham Potter has the ace card.
West Ham may not have much money to spend from the outset this summer but they have other ways of beating rivals like Arsenal to targets.
Graham Potter is ripping up the Hammers squad after a dismal Premier League campaign.
Arsenal are also looking to make important improvements in a bid to close the gap on Liverpool next season.
West Ham and Arsenal want to strengthen same positions
Both West Ham and Arsenal are prioritising midfield and striker signings when the summer transfer window opens on Sunday, June 1.
The Gunners are closing in on Martin Zubimendi and have even been linked with Hammers star Mohammed Kudus.
And ironically that means West Ham now have the upper hand chasing a player Mikel Arteta has been tracking all season.
The harsh truth of the situation Potter has inherited at the London Stadium is that West Ham have failed miserably to replace Declan Rice since his move to Arsenal.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
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The Hammers brought in £105m of pure profit with the sale of Rice, who has predictably become Arsenal’s most important player.
Signings since then by David Moyes, Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui have frankly not been fit to lace Rice’s boots.
It leaves Potter with a hodgepodge mix of midfield players totally devoid of any pace, athleticism, dynamism and energy.
James Ward-Prowse has looked all ends up a Championship player for the Hammers.
Edson Alvarez is not up to the physicality of the Premier League and desperately lacks power and speed across the ground.
Hammers have failed to replace Rice since Gunners move
Guido Rodriguez has barely featured all season and has often struggled with the rough and tumble of the Premier League when he has.
Tomas Soucek is a Hammers hero but was at his best with a true athlete like Rice alongside him.
Now Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay are looking to hijack a Gunners target.
And West Ham hold the ace card over Arsenal in a new move for a versatile star Arteta wants.
Southampton-owned midfielder Shea Charles could be set for a move to West Ham this summer.
Combative, dynamic all-action midfielder Charles has been a near ever-present on loan at Sheffield Wednesday this season.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
West Ham hold ace card over Arsenal in move for Charles
The Man City academy product already has 25 caps for Northern Ireland aged just 21.
The Saints paid £15m for Charles two years ago after making one first team appearance under Pep Guardiola.
BBC Sport revealed six months ago that Arsenal have been monitoring Charles, with Arteta a big fan having previously coached the midfielder at Man City.
Speaking earlier in the season, Wednesday boss Danny Rohl confirmed Arsenal and others were sniffing around Charles.
And he told BBC Radio Sheffield at the time that it was a shame the young star wasn’t their player because he was destined for the top and a big move.
Rohl said: “He’s a young, high-potential player – the pity is that he is not our player.”
Mail Sport claim a move to east rather than north London now looks more likely for Charles after Southampton’s relegation.
No lack of irony as West Ham could beat Arteta to Rice heir
And that is because West Ham can now offer young stars something Arsenal cannot – guaranteed game time.
Arteta is facing huge pressure to have Arsenal lift some silverware next season.
Signing Zubimendi is a move for the here and now – for Arsenal to win and get over the line.
There will be no time for blooding young players at the Emirates next term.
That clears the path for West Ham, where Potter is looking to completely reinvent the team around rising talent like Charles.
Potter stated after the season-ending win over Ipswich that Macaulay has been ‘very busy’ lining up West Ham’s targets.
The Hammers boss also said the club is in for an “exciting and interesting summer window”.
Now we are perhaps seeing why.
Beating Arsenal to finally land an adequate replacement for Rice would be quite something.