Graham Potter has publicly criticised West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug and his comments make it crystal clear the Hammers simply must seal an exciting deal.
West Ham’s transfer priority has switched to midfield after the club record signing of goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
There is no doubting that signing at least one dynamic young midfielder should be of paramount importance for Graham Potter in the next three weeks.
But it would be high risk if the Hammers go into the season without making improvements elsewhere too.
The back three of Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman and Nayef Aguerd looks seriously suspect.
Particularly Aguerd and Kilman and right now the trio do not complement each other well at all.
Whether that will improve with time remains to be seen.
Potter’s striking issue at West Ham
With the Premier League expected to be at its most competitive level for over a decade next season, it is a big gamble to take.
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One look at the first half of West Ham’s pre-season clash with Lille suggests the forward line is lacking too.
Hammers fans fully expected the club to go out and sign at least one young, pacy striker who can be West Ham’s main man up front for years to come.
So when the Irons brought in injury-prone 33-year-old free agent Callum Wilson, supporters were not happy at all.
Especially as their only other senior forward, Niclas Fullkrug, turns 33 this season himself and is also seriously prone to injury.
Niclas Fullkrug sees a header pawed over during West Ham's pre-season clash with Lille
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Wilson has his work cut out to win over West Ham fans.
And while Hammers fans love Fullkrug and his approach to the game, he lacks pace and mobility – key ingredients for any striker in the Premier League.
When bringing in Wilson, West Ham’s board stated they felt the club needed two new forwards.
But they revealed Potter was less convinced, preferring instead to try and sign a quality midfielder or two.
The Hammers were pretty abject in the first half of their 1-1 pre-season draw with Lille at the London Stadium.
The east Londoners were much-improved in the second half.
Potter criticises West Ham star Fullkrug
But Potter has criticised West Ham star Fullkrug and it proves an exciting deal must be pushed through.
After his now infamous angry outburst towards the end of last season, Potter dropped Fullkrug – much to the disdain of Hammers fans.
When questioned about the thinking behind his actions, Potter explained he sees Fullkrug as an impact sub for West Ham.
Based on that logic, does that make Wilson – who turns 34 next season and has spent the equivalent of three entire 38-game seasons out injured in the last five years – West Ham’s first choice striker?
Fullkrug has the shirt by default right now.
But Potter was not overly impressed with the big German against Lille, singling Fullkrug out for criticism for his poor first half display.
West Ham head coach wears a bemused look in the dugout during the match against Lille
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
While Potter did praise his improved efforts in the second half, it is alarming given the lack of options waiting in the wings if Fullkrug experiences similar difficulties when the real deal kicks off next week.
“I think he’ll (Fullkrug) be the first to say he can probably do more, as the team can do more,” Potter told West Ham TV while offering long hours travelling across, and back from, the US as a legitimate reason for some of the lethargy on display.
“Certainly at the start of the game (Fullkrug needed to do more).
“But his response, he kept going and gets his goal, I thought he was unlucky with another couple of opportunities as well.
“So he shows what he brings to the team as a focal point, he’s also a goal threat.
“If he can keep that intensity and that quality that he has, then he’ll obviously be a real asset for us.”
Potter blast proves exciting Gueye deal must be pushed through
Whatever Potter is planning for the medium to long-term at West Ham, neither Fullkrug or Wilson will be around too far into the future given their advancing ages.
So West Ham are kicking the can down the road if they fail to sign a younger forward this summer.
Fullkrug’s limitations were on show in that first half and it proved the Hammers need another option up front who has pace, mobility and dynamism.
They are attributes 18-year-old Metz forward Idrissa Gueye has in abundance.
A report from the Senegal star’s homeland this weekend claimed West Ham are closing on a bargain £13.5m deal for Gueye.
The report stated a deal looked “imminent” for the Kyle Macaulay target after he ‘agreed personal terms’.
That has since been played down by club insiders, who insist midfield is the next priority.
But if West Ham go into the new season with injury-prone duo Wilson and Fullkrug as their only senior striker options ahead of raw rookie Callum Marshall, then they will have nobody else to blame if the consequences are disastrous.
At £13.5m it is surely a no-brainer to bring Gueye in as a different option when Fullkrug is having a game like that first half against Lille.
Or when, as many feel is inevitable given their records, both the German and Wilson are out injured next season.
West Ham are seen as relegation candidates by many journalists, pundits and fans.
Dropping out of the Premier League would be disastrous financially – costing the club at least £120m overnight.
While spending £13.5m on Gueye would not guarantee West Ham would avert disaster, it is surely the more sensible gamble to take.