West Ham United bosses are making their first January signing for a new manager Graham Potterwith the Englishman agreeing a two-year deal to replace Julen Lopetegui as co-chairman this week David Sullivan now he is trying to support him.
West Ham appoint Graham Potter as focus shifts to January
The former Chelsea and Brighton manager took charge of his first game on Friday night against Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup, and attention now shifts to the January market, where technical director Tim Steidten, Sullivan and the club’s board will be hoping to land some January additions were needed.
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East Londoners – currently languishing in 14th place Premier League table and possess one of the division’s most leaky back lines this season – desperate to transform their fortunes by appointing Potter, a tactician who worked wonders at Brighton on a shoestring budget.
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West Ham’s next five matches in the Premier League |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Fulham (home) |
January 14 |
|
Crystal Palace (house) |
January 18 |
|
Aston Villa (away) |
January 26 |
|
Chelsea (away) |
February 3 |
|
Brentford (home) |
February 15 |
West Ham have been repeatedly linked with a new striker, and are believed to be candidates to sign Evan Ferguson on loan from Potter’s former club.
However, Ironi and any other interested parties may have to wait until closer to the end of the month, as Brighton are yet to make a final decision on whether their striker can leave mid-season (GiveMeSport).
This was claimed by this week’s reports in Portugal West Ham have also had a loan bid for Arthur Cabral rejectedbut they could still negotiate a deal if they agree to Benfica’s terms of a mandatory buyout option of around £12.5m (A Bola).
To return to their fragile defense, there are also rumors West Ham are in talks with Senou Coulibaly’s surroundingswith the Malian centre-back impressing observers as a prominent centre-half in the Cypriot first league.
Steidten and Sullivan’s target list is starting to take shape, but Potter actually has a personal request of his own.
Graham Potter wants Ben Chilwell at West Ham in January
£200,000 a week Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has been frozen out of Enzo Maresca’s Premier League side, and it is now believed that the West Ham boss could offer him an escape route across London.
Maresca confirmed that Chilwell could leave Chelsea in the coming weeks, in his pre-match press conference on Friday. According to a report by Football Transfers, Potter personally wants to sign Chilwell for West Hamand the club is “pushing” to make it happen.
Potter’s side are also actively trying to move full-back Vladimir Coufalo out of the gate to make way for Chilwell, with his contract soon to expire and no sign of a renewal as things stand.
West Ham are looking for the 28-year-old on a temporary deal, and while his club would prefer to offload him permanently, they are actually open to a loan move if it means they can get Chilwell off their books for the second half on 24/25.
The podcaster calls him an “underrated” player Laurence Vescolithe former Leicester City star has played for England and captained Chelsea in previous seasons, winning the Champions League with them in 2021, so he is a player of real quality and experience if given the chance.
