Who is really in control of transfers at West Ham United? Well, according to vice-chair Karren Brady, the answer to that question is emphatically Graham Potter.
Now, the more suspicious members of a frustrated fanbase accused owner David Sullivan of bringing Callum Wilson to the London Stadium; The most contentious of the club’s four summer signings thus far.
A theory sparked by the fact that Wilson’s agent is close with the Sullivan family. Furthermore, did Graham Potter really want a 33-year-old centre-forward who had missed no fewer than 114 matches during half a decade at Newcastle?
It should be said that Potter labelled West Ham’s new number nine a ‘top player’ before Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing by Sunderland. Then again, considering that many suspect that he is something of a ‘yes man’, Potter’s pre-match praise may be viewed as nothing more than a manager toeing the party line.
Either way, during her exclusive interview with talkSPORT on the back of that Wearside thrashing, vice-chair Karren Brady was keen to insist that the £18 million acquisition of Mads Hermansen was one demanded by the man in the West Ham United dugout, rather than anyone in the boardroom.
Karren Brady insists Graham Potter wanted Mads Hermansen at West Ham United
Hammers News can confirm, via chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that the former Leicester City keeper was indeed the preferred choice of the coaching staff.
Graham Potter wanted a goalkeeper who can contribute to the build-up, and Hermansen’s footwork makes him well suited to the former Chelsea boss’s gameplan.
But while the question centred around Hermansen rather than Callum Wilson, Brady did appear to hit back at those wondering who really makes the decisions when it comes to new signings.
“Look, the manager makes the decisions about the players that he wants and the positions that he needs,” Brady said. “He felt that he needed to freshen up that [goalkeeping department] and bring in a player, so that is exactly what we did.
“We brought in the player that he wanted and he’s a new addition to the team.”
Gary Lineker backs former Leicester City keeper after Sunderland debacle
West Ham did consider a range of other options, including Parma’s Zion Suzuki and Michael Zetterer of Werder Bremen.
Hammers News were informed that West Ham called off a deal for John Victor, meanwhile, largely due to uncertainty surrounding the actual fees involved in signing the 6ft 5ins Botafogo giant.
Hermansen marked his West Ham debut with a ‘big mistake’ at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, to quote Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison.
While largely powerless to prevent Eliezer Mayenda and Dan Ballard heading the hosts into a 2-0 goal, Wilson Isidor’s breakaway third skipped over his outstretched hand and into the bottom corner.
Leicester legend Gary Lineker is backing Hermansen to recover, however, while the presence of Casper Ankergren in Potter’s coaching staff should ease his eventual adaptation to life in the capital.
Ankergren was a mentor to Hermansen back home in Denmark at Brondby. The duo now reunited at Rush Green.
“[West Ham] obviously spent quite a few quid on him,” England icon Lineker says. “I mean, I really like him. He’s been a brilliant shot stopper, but it was an awful debut.
“You thought he could have got the first one, maybe not. But the third one went straight. He tried to push it out and missed it.
“Yes, he had a bad day [but] I’ve seen a lot of him and I’m confident for West Ham fans that you’ll see much better from him going forward. I think he’s a top ‘keeper.”
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