Graham Potter has made a bold claim about one West Ham villain many fans don’t want, insisting he can turn him into the club’s answer to a 108-goal Premier League hero.
West Ham could be about to take one of the biggest gambles in their Premier League history.
The Hammers kick off the new season at Sunderland next week with many tipping them as relegation candidates.
Paul Merson believes the promoted sides will all fancy finishing above West Ham.
Darren Ambrose and Tony Cascarino both feel the Hammers could drop.
The jury is still very much out on Graham Potter among West Ham fans so he has it all to prove this season.
Potter has said now is the time to judge him after a rare period of grace.
West Ham’s season was effectively over 48 hours after he was appointed in January when they went out of the FA Cup in the Englishman’s first game in charge.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Jury out on Potter as new season looms for West Ham
The Irons won just five of his first 19 games in charge.
Clearly that must change if West Ham are to avoid the relegation fate many believe will befall them – let alone challenge for the top half.
Potter’s record in his half season in charge was actually worse than his predecessor Julen Lopetegui.
Most worryingly, West Ham’s attacking dropped off a cliff, developing into one of the worst in the top flight in terms of chances, shots and goals.
Potter said that was because he had to focus on fixing the team’s hapless defence.
Many believed West Ham would go out and sign at least one powerful, pacy new striker this summer, if not two.
Especially with Michail Antonio, Danny Ings and Evan Ferguson all departing.
Instead, West Ham caused major controversy by bringing in ageing, injury-prone free agent Callum Wilson alongside another ageing and injury-prone forward Niclas Fullkrug.
Callum Wilson in training for Newcastle United
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Word from inside West Ham is that Potter does not feel he needs to sign another striker this summer.
That’s despite reports over the weekend claiming the Hammers are close to signing Idrissa Gueye from Metz.
The powerful 18-year-old Senegal forward has been likened to Sadio Mane and Olivier Giroud and is said to be keen on the move.
But despite being a Kyle Macaulay target, it seems Potter wants to prioritise midfield signings first.
Instead the Hammers boss believes he can use what he has to transform West Ham’s attack.
Because Potter says he can make a villain many fans don’t want into West Ham’s answer to a 108-goal Premier League hero.
When West Ham signed Wilson it sparked an angry backlash from supporters.
Potter says villain can be West Ham’s answer to 108-goal hero
The bogeyman has tormented the Hammers down the years on and off the pitch.
The 33-year-old has asked supporters to let bygones be bygones and vowed to make up for all the goals he has scored against them by now netting for them instead.
Many fans are angry Wilson was signed and Antonio was not retained.
Supporters were also furious when it was announced Wilson was taking Antonio’s number nine shirt on the same day it was finally formally announced the Jamaican was leaving the club after 10 years.
Wilson has missed the equivalent of three full 38-game seasons through injury in the last five years at Newcastle.
While his goal record when he is fit and firing is very good, many fans are sceptical about the move, which jars with Potter’s stated transfer policy to sign young, athletic stars with potential future sell-on value.
However, the Hammers boss is convinced he can make fans love Wilson by turning him into their answer to Danny Welbeck.
Danny Welbeck scores for Brighton against Liverpool
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Wilson can be West Ham’s Welbeck says Potter
The former Man United and Arsenal striker was signed by Potter at Brighton, where he is still playing as he nears his 35th birthday.
Welbeck has 108 goal contributions during his time in the Premier League, scoring 77 times and laying on 31 assists in 363 appearances.
He had endured an injury-ravaged career until he joined Brighton.
Now Potter thinks he can turn Wilson into West Ham’s answer to Welbeck.
“I think we’ve done well with Niklas Fullkrug in terms of helping him be injury-free, touch wood,” Potter told BBC Sport.
“We had a similar situation in one of my old clubs with Danny Welbeck. He arrived with a history of injuries and it ended up pretty well for Brighton and Danny.
“So, I think if we can do the same with Callum, we’ll have a really good striker on our hands.”
Welbeck comparison won’t excite Hammers fans
Welbeck is a steady Premier League player.
But Potter is sorely mistaken if he thinks promising to turn Wilson into Welbeck is going to get Hammers fans excited and dreaming again.
Welbeck has never scored more than 12 goals in a season and Hammers fans have been brought up on some of the most talented, maverick forwards around from Tony Cottee and Frank McAvennie to Paolo Di Canio, Dean Ashton, Carlos Tevez and Marko Arnautovic.
Although if Wilson can match Welbeck’s numbers from last season, when he scored 11 goals and got four assists, then it will prove a worthwhile signing.