West Ham United Owner On Another “Dilemma” To Twist The Long Awaited Transfer

Convinced’ West Ham owners make incredible transfer U-turn just seven weeks into Graham Potter’s reign

Graham Potter has been in the West Ham job for just seven weeks but the owners have already seen enough to perform a quite incredible U-turn.

That’s according to details being leaked from behind the scenes by a top West Ham journalist

When Graham Potter was appointed West Ham boss on January 9th, he said he had been convinced by the club’s ambition.

That was music to the ears of the club’s fans.

Because since a significant summer spend, all the indications had been the Hammers may have to tighten their belts.

As the world and its wife knows, West Ham’s board committed £155m to transfers in last summer’s rebuild.

Doubt cast over West Ham’s summer finances

But it is widely accepted that rebuild was poorly executed, leaving Potter with the oldest squad in the Premier League.

Known for being a manager who builds his teams around young, dynamic players – it is clear another revamp will be needed at West Ham this summer.

West Ham paid Chelsea £1.2m to reunite Potter with Kyle Macauley as the club’s new head of recruitment.

His impact was clear almost instantly in the winter window as the Hammers were suddenly linked with a host of young, exciting stars.

But when Evan Ferguson was the only arrival, on a straight loan, fans were left fearing reports about the club’s financial position were true.

‘Convinced’ West Ham owners make incredible transfer U-turn

It was revealed West Ham did a £69m deal with Barclays to access transfer funds owed to them early.

The deal saw the Hammers get their hands on £65m of £69m due to them ahead of time, sacrificing £4m by way of payment.

A top club insider then claimed the new manager faces a difficult summer window if he wants to make signings.

That had supporters worried Potter may already be regretting joining West Ham.

But West Ham’s owners have been ‘convinced’ to make an incredible transfer U-turn just seven weeks into Potter’s reign.

Two days after he was appointed as Julen Lopetegui’s successor, West Ham stated they want a 10-year Potter dynasty.

If the manager and Macauley don’t have money to spend, though, then it’s difficult to see that as a realistic possibility.

West Ham have admitted the summer transfer budget is ‘minimal’.

Especially as £32m of the budget is already assigned to paying for Jean-Clair Todibo

The club have stated that they will have to be ‘creative’.

Not what fans or Potter would want to hear.

But there is some exciting news from a top Hammers reporter.

Board to back Potter after West Ham turnaround

The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas now claims West Ham’s billionaire co-owners David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky have seen enough from Potter to apparently change their tune on summer plans.

Just days after the top spokesman for the club’s ownership confirmed finances will be tight, Thomas claims there has been a shift behind the scenes.

He reports that the board have been so enthused by Potter’s work so far – on and off the pitch – that they will be backing him with signings in the next window.

Sullivan, Kretinsky and the board are delighted with how Potter has lifted morale and intensity in training sessions.

It must be remembered, West Ham were initially reluctant to hand Potter anything more than a six-month contract.

After 20 months out of work, there was understandable hesitation. Especially after the disastrous appointment of Lopetegui.

West Ham will make summer signings for new boss

Wrangling over contract length was the reason negotiations ended up becoming protracted over three days.

Potter got the two-and-a-half-year deal he wanted in the end.

Now the owners have been convinced he is the right man to take the team forward long-term, as was their hope.

Thomas says the hieirachy have been impressed that Potter is already building the team in his own image.

He will now be backed with signings in the summer.

And several targets have already been lined up.

Now that is just what fans want to hear. Cynics among them will of course believe it when they see it.

But the outlook is certainly a lot more promising than it was.

So incredibly, West Ham United could deal a big blow to Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

Both West Ham and Arsenal are expected to be very busy indeed in the transfer market this summer, with Graham Potter and Mikel Arteta desperate to bolster their ranks at The London Stadium and The Emirates respectively