Graham Potter is only six weeks into the job but has clearly already seen enough of one West Ham star as a new signing is lined up.
Not many people would have predicted West Ham’s defence would still be an issue this season.
The Hammers shipped a Premier League club record 74 goals last season.
So it made sense when West Ham went out and spent £87m on improving the backline.
Max Kilman became the most expensive defender in West Ham’s history when he was signed for £40m from Wolves.
Jean-Clair Todibo arrived on a season-long loan which triggered to a permanent £32m deal after five Premier League starts.
And Aaron Wan-Bissaka was one of the bargains of the season, signing for just £15m from Man United.
As a result of the disastrous tenure of Julen Lopetegui, though, West Ham’s defence has been just as bad.
The Hammers had been on course to equal their woeful defensive record, shipping on average just under two goals per game.
Performances overall have been improved under Graham Potter.
West Ham in early talks to seal brilliant summer buy
The best coming in the 1-0 win at Arsenal on Saturday.
It was no co-incidence West Ham kept a clean sheet given Potter had Todibo available from the start for the first time.
Beyond the Frenchman and Kilman, though, the Hammers are worryingly thin.
Veteran left-back Aaron Cresswell has been having to play at centre-back – as has Vladimir Coufal at times.
Just over six weeks into his tenure, Potter has already identified centre-back as a priority position to strengthen in the summer.
Now West Ham are in early talks to seal a brilliant summer buy and it’s curtains for one star.
The fact Coufal and Cresswell have been preferred to Konstantinos Mavropanos says everything.
The big Greek has all the physical attributes to be a quality Premier League defender and Hammers cult hero.
But he has been rash and error-prone ever since arriving from Stuttgart for £17.5m.
It looks like curtains for error-prone Mavropanos at West Ham
It is a damning indictment that West Ham fans feared they would throw away their 1-0 lead against 10-men purely because Mavropanos came on as a second half substitute.
They were nearly right too after he recklessly gave away a needless free-kick on the edge of the box which presented Arsenal a big chance to equalise.
Mavropanos is a bit of an enigma. He is built like a Greek god, quick over the ground, great in the air and powerful.
He can often be having a fantastic game only to make at least one error which costs his team dear.
Mavropanos’ concentration levels are nowhere near the level needed to be a top Premier League defender.
The writing has been on the wall for the ex Arsenal flop since short, ageing full-backs were preferred over him by the new manager.
Now journalist Alan Nixon has lifted the lid on plans which will undoubtedly see the 27-year-old replaced this summer.
Hammers line up Harwood-Bellis as summer signing
In an exclusive on his Patreon, Sun journalist Nixon says West Ham are lining up Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
It says a lot about how good Harwood-Bellis is that he has earned an England call-up despite playing for relegation certs Southampton.
Nixon says Roy Keane’s son-in-law to be is fancied by West Ham.
And he claims Harwood-Bellis is up for the move having recently changed agent.
Nixon says the classy defender would cost around £15 million and Hammers are in the market for him as Potter eyes a new centre-back.
What an outstanding upgrade this would be for West Ham.
If the Hammers can fetch around £10m for Mavropanos then Harwood-Bellis would be a steal at £15m.
The 23-year-old impressed on his England debut, scoring a goal to boot.
Potter and new head of recruitment Kyle Macauley are targeting English and British players.
The new manager wants to make Evan Ferguson’s move permanent in the summer.
Young Scottish striker Daniel Cummings is set to join for a nominal fee from Celtic.
England midfielder Angel Gomes is a major Hammers target.
And now Harwood-Bellis is firmly on West Ham’s radar with the club making their interest known in a summer deal.
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