Graham Potter has told owners to bring him two stars so he can transform West Ham

The first half was the best the Hammers had played in a year.

Everything was looking up as Potter got an instant impact and West Ham led 1-0 at half-time of a tie many expected them to lose heavily.

Injuries to Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville changed the game in Villa’s favour and the Irons crashed out 2-1 – but with plenty to be positive about.

Despite having a glut of injuries, Potter’s pressing helped West Ham pull off a 3-2 win over Fulham in his first Premier League match for 20 months just a few days later.

In the background one name after another is being linked with moves to the London Stadium.

And technical director Tim Steidten is said to be on his last legs after a disastrous summer rebuild.

When Palace came to the London Stadium on Saturday, Potter got to see everything bad about West Ham.

There is a reason he was made the club’s 19th permanent manager in the club’s 130-year history.

He saw them up close and personal in the 2-0 defeat to Palace in front of a deathly quiet and disinterested home fanbase.

Potter has told owners to bring him two stars at West Ham

It would have been when Potter sat down to select his squad for the game that the task he has on his hands became crystal clear, though.

The board, Steidten, David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui have put together an ageing, immobile squad lacking in dynamism, pace, athleticism and depth.

That’s despite spending over £155m last summer.

The focus has been on signing a striker and midfielder in the January transfer window.

A centre-back will be needed too with Konstantinos Mavropanos looking worse with every game.

West Ham cannot afford to make any more transfer mistakes, though.

They need the right players, characters and profiles to get the club competitive again.

Thankfully the new manager already knows what he wants and who he wants.

Potter has told the owners to bring him two stars so he can transform West Ham.

West Ham have been linked with so many players this month alone.

Some targets have been a lot more realistic than others.

But information released by Graeme Bailey this week really caught the attention of West Ham fans.

Potter feels David and Gomes can give Hammers new life

There was a unanimous cry of ‘now you’re talking’ when it was claimed the Hammers want to sign Lille duo Jonathan David and Angel Gomes.

Now Hammers News has spoken to Bailey in depth about that interest.

The football correspondent has revealed that Potter believes Canada striker David and England midfielder Gomes can go a long way to solving the West Ham issues he has now seen first hand in his first 10 days at the club.

The good news for West Ham is that both are available to sign pre-contract agreements this month for free transfers in the summer.

Many would say the bad news is that means competition for their signatures will be fierce.

But Bailey believes if any club is capable of pulling off that transfer coup it is the Hammers.

“I am told Graham Potter is still assessing the squad, but talks have taken place over potential targets for the summer,” Bailey told Hammers News.

“But I understand that Angel Gomes and Jonathan David are two names that have come up, who Potter admires greatly.

“A player like Gomes ticks an awful lot of boxes for Potter, a player who loves the ball, can hold and but distribute it with tremendous ease – a hugely impactful player that looks ready-made for a Potter team.

“And David, well he has one of Europe’s most in-demand strikers. Interestingly I know that West Ham looked at him last summer but sections of the club’s recruitment team were not sure about him, but now Potter has made it clear that he likes him and the club should make a move.

“For both players, it will be difficult to land – but West Ham have provided some of the biggest transfer shocks in Premier League history so I would not discount them at this stage.”

Related Topics