Graham Potter is in a pickle at West Ham.placeholder image
Graham Potter is in a pickle at West Ham. | Getty Images
West Ham should make serious moves to sign a transfer listed Manchester United midfielder.
After a lethargic summer of transfer activity, there was a feeling that West Ham could be in for a tricky start to the 2025/26 campaign and that has very much proven to be the case.
Graham Potter’s side were thrashed by newly-promoted Sunderland and then Chelsea in their opening two league outings, beaten by an aggregate score of 8-1. A 3-2 defeat to Wolves then followed as the Hammers were dumped out of the Carabao Cup.
The West Ham manager must find change at the London Stadium and find it quickly, with patience running low as Potter struggles to get results. The former Chelsea and Brighton manager hasn’t been helped by a lack of investment and one key area for improvement is midfield.
West Ham struggle for bite in midfield
Truthfully, the London outfit have never managed to find a long-term replacement for club legend Declan Rice following his move to Arsenal in 2023. David Moyes turned to Edson Alvarez but the Mexico international never really found consistency while last summer’s recruitment of Guido Rodriguez and Carlos Soler proved a flop.
Potter is keen to trust James Ward-Prowse and youngster Freddie Potts to provide spark in the West Ham midfield but it’s clear that is not working. There’s a worrying lack of character in the current West Ham squad and the team is crying out for an all-action, box-to-box midfielder.
It should therefore be music to the ears of West Ham to hear that Manchester United could green light the exit of England international Kobbie Mainoo this summer. The Athletic report that Mainoo is ‘ready’ to leave the club and that the Red Devils are ‘open’ to a deal, but not pushing an exit.
Manchester United open to Kobbie Mainoo sale
The Sun claims that a £45 million offer would be enough to convince Manchester United to sanction an exit while Jason Soutar names Newcastle United as early frontrunners. It’s not a cheap move but West Ham must rush to hijack any early Magpies talks - Mainoo seems exactly the profile of player that the club needs.
The midfielder is still just 20 years old and would arrive with Premier League, European and international experience. Mainoo could be the immediate and long-term solution that West Ham need.
England stars have heaped praise on Mainoo and their praise should be enough to incentivise West Ham to make a move. Speaking at the end of the 2023/24 season, Harry Maguire said: “I’ve been a massive fan of Kobbie's since he first started training with us. I remember talking to [goalkeeper] Tom Heaton about him and I was saying, ‘I feel like this boy has got everything.’
“He can handle the ball brilliantly. He’s really strong, powerful, and you can see his progression to play that No.6 role, especially for United. The ‘six’ role is a huge responsibility and I'm sure the positional part of his game will improve drastically.”
Ex Hammers star Declan Rice approves of Mainoo personality
That ticks all the boxes for West Ham in terms of what’s been lacking on the pitch. Mainoo’s attitude is something that Potter should want too, and it’s been approved by former Hammers star Rice. The Arsenal midfielder said: “You speak to him and just feel his calm presence that he has and what I like about him is that he is not scared to say it how it is.
“There was something towards the end [of the semi-final win against the Netherlands] when he gave me a pass between the lines and I got sold short for it. “We had to sprint back and we had bit at each other, but that is good because you need that relationship. At 19, I can’t imagine many saying that to older players and that's what I love about him. That is what the lads love about him as well. He gets that respect, he has that leadership and the way he takes the ball and is comfortable.”
In other news, 'Way off' - Former Hammer warns West Ham they must address transfer needs urgently to avoid 'huge pressure'.
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