The West Ham United board have laid the blame for the Hammers’ current predicament at the door of former manager Graham Potter — and in particular, his refusal to sign strikers last summer.
The revelation is nothing new. Claret & Hugh were told the same thing by a top source in July, when it was made clear that the signing of Callum Wilson was a board decision driven by David Sullivan rather than Potter or then head of recruitment Kyle MacAulay
However, a report earlier today from Hammers News, quoting a top Hammers source, has given more detail over precisely who West Ham missed out on in the summer transfer window.
In particular, it is former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has enjoyed something of a renaissance since joining Leeds United.
Calvert-Lewin had been linked with a move to West Ham on numerous occasions before becoming available on a free transfer last summer. However, the former England striker’s poor injury record made his acquisition a significant risk.
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It now seems that was not enough to deter the West Ham hierarchy, who, according to Hammers News, attempted to sign him but were advised against it by Potter.
Speaking to the website, the source claimed: “We regret not signing Calvert-Lewin, especially on a free transfer. Mr Potter didn’t want a forward and would not let us sign one. Nuno came in and identified he wanted two and it has helped massively.”
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The claim is perhaps only half true.
At the time, Potter was attempting to secure the signing of Porto striker Samu Omorodion, with a West Ham source telling Claret & Hugh the target was “unrealistic”. Potter also personally called Jonathan David in an attempt to persuade him to join the Hammers — something confirmed to Claret & Hugh by a source close to the player.
Now, let’s get one thing straight. I’m not a fan of Graham Potter, who I believe should never have been given the West Ham job. I think he is a poor coach who carries very little authority.
And hindsight suggests Calvert-Lewin has turned out to be a good signing for Leeds.
But the truth is that Potter was interested in signing a quality striker — just not the list of injury-prone free transfers he was presented with.