With Graham Potter already thinking ahead of the summer transfer window, West Ham United reportedly entered pole position to sign a demoted star before Newcastle United.
West Ham’s tough start under Potter
When Julen Lopetegui left West Ham following a failed stint at London Stadium, there would have been plenty of hope that Potter would be someone to turn things around. However, throughout the first months of his reign, the former Chelsea manager has struggled to make his mark – only to raise more concerns and make the summer transfer window even more important.
As a result, rumors have already become thick and faster. Names like CJ Egan-Riley and Yann Bisseck are two names that are particularly threatening to steal headlines to fix leaky backlines. The latter is particularly impressive given his role in Inter Milan’s Champions League role this season.
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However, it remains to be seen whether West Ham is in a position to seduce such players at London Stadium. Unlike under David Moyes, they no longer offer European football. Now, they may need to slightly adjust their ambitions, falling out of the back of the lower half season.
What hasn’t helped West Ham bosses in recent weeks is the Niklas Fullkrag explosion following a frustrating draw at relegated Southampton. Potter responded to the rage ahead of him, telling reporters: “I think he (Fullkrug) wears his mind on his sleeve. I’d disagree with him on some things and agree with him on others.
“But he has the right to receive his opinions. As a senior player, we have had a lot of honest conversations, and for me it’s better to have conversations privately rather than publicly.”
Paul Ham position signs Ramsdale in preparation for bids of £20 million
One way the Hammer can avoid the frustration of missing a top target while matching their ambitions is to sign the appointed star. According to catch-offside, West Ham is currently leading the race to sign Aaron Ramsdale ahead of Newcastle United, preparing offers worth 23 million euros (£20 million) this summer.
However, whether or not you think Southampton is acceptable is another question. Reports suggest that goalkeepers have a release clause worth £25 million. This means that anything offered below is likely to be rejected.
During his time at Arsenal, England International was undoubtedly his best, with David Raya finally winning his place. The result received a lot of praise, Gunners legend David Seaman told reporters in 2023 when asked about Ramsdale. “People forget that he’s 24. So, since I didn’t attend Arsenal until I was 26, that’s amazing to me. What he’s doing at 24 now is amazing.
“He’s always making big saves. There was one of the world class 1-0 on Saturday. It wasn’t like a flying save, but it was really the technical goalkeeping part.