Graham Potter could be forgiven for wondering why he took the West Ham job after word from above him.
One thing has become abundantly clear in Graham Potter’s first three months at West Ham.
One, that he is incapable of getting a tune out of the woefully composed Hammers squad he inherited.
And two, that wholesale changes are a necessity in midfield and up front if West Ham are to get anywhere close to challenging for Europe again next season.
The Hammers’ season was over 48 hours after Potter took the job.
Defeat at Villa in the FA Cup in his first came and Julen Lopetegui’s hapless reign made sure of that.
Big West Ham rebuild will cost big money
The problem is a big rebuild costs money.
But my goodness is it needed.
The Hammers have been abysmal over the last 16 months. Literally from the moment 2024 began through to now, the east London club have regressed to the brink of the relegation zone.
West Ham are in a fight with Wolves to avoid being the worst team in the Premier League outside the pathetic bottom three clubs.
The players have got off extremely lightly. Anger has turned to apathy and the London Stadium more closely resembles a library on matchdays right now.
It was actually refreshing for West Ham fans to see Potter deliver a much-needed and long overdue kick up the backside for his players last week.
He told West Ham’s “stars” in no uncertain terms that they must shape up or be shipped out in his summer overhaul.
In the background, though, fans have found it extremely difficult to get excited about what an extended and massive summer transfer window might hold.
Because West Ham’s owners have persistently insisted there is no money to spend.
Just yesterday the Hammers board reiterated that the PSR limit has been reached.
It is stated the club did not realise or anticipate how bad the finances would be due to a number of factors.
Potter drops bombshell on West Ham’s transfer plans
The board insist players must be sold before West Ham can even think about making signings.
Ruthless Potter wants as many as 11 out and eight in.
Selling players who have been so woeful for so long is easier said than done, though.
Potter said his decision to end his 20-month hiatus from football to accept the West Ham job came as a result of being impressed by the club’s ambition.
The 49-year-old has also claimed the Hammers have the resources to compete for Europe.
None of it computes with the financial landscape being painted by the owners above him.
Potter promises West Ham fans ‘exciting summer window’
Now Potter has dropped a bombshell on what he really thinks about West Ham’s transfer plans.
Either there is serious miscommunication between the Hammers hierarchy and their new manager, broken promises or smoke and mirrors at play.
Because in an astonishing new claim, Potter has told West Ham fans they are in for a seriously exciting summer transfer window.
The Athletic claim ‘Potter could barely contain his excitement’ when questioned about West Ham’s transfer plans this summer.
The Hammers boss was reluctant to go into too much detail about which areas of the team he is planning to overhaul.
His rationale being that would merely increase the prices of the players the club goes after.
Maybe West Ham do have money after all?
But as well as promising ‘it’s going to be an exciting summer’, Potter went as far as to state he and the board are planning to completely revolutionise their ageing, underachieving squad with young, talented players who actually want to play for West Ham.
To give the comments context, the last time Potter was involved in a transfer window, Chelsea broke all manner of spending records with their youthful overhaul.
So that is some claim from the manager.
Let’s hope he is not making promises to supporters that the board are incapable of delivering on.
Because then things really will turn toxic very quickly when the summer window rolls around.
As a wasted season slowly but surely comes to a welcome end, Potter’s comments have just breathed life into the club at the perfect time.
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