Latest news with #KyleMacaulay
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
West Ham Transfer DealSheet: Summer window latest, key positions and available players
West Ham United have to sell before they can buy any new players ahead of the summer transfer window. A number of targets have been identified and head coach Graham Potter predicts an exciting window. But the club intends to sell several fringe players to enable Potter to continue building West Ham in his image. Advertisement Potter took over mid-season and oversaw five wins in 18 league games, losing eight and drawing five. At his unveiling in January, the head coach outlined how he intends to improve the side, why the club has a high ceiling and the need for everyone to be aligned. Five months on, and Potter will finally get the opportunity to imprint his ideas in the transfer market. The Athletic can reveal who the key decision makers will be this summer, who could potentially depart and more. Mainly majority shareholder David Sullivan, Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay. 'Kyle has been busy, and we've all been working as a club,' Potter told West Ham's website. 'We need to plan, we need to reflect, we need to make the right decisions, in terms of what we want to do going forward, and it's going to be an exciting, interesting summer. I think, in an ideal world, you want to do things early (in the transfer market), but sometimes it's not like that. You have to be patient. If we can do anything, we will. But, at the same time, I think making the right decision, aligned together, is the focus for us.' The recruitment team primarily includes sporting director Mark Noble, European scout Georges Santos, first team scout Adam Clarke and first-team recruitment analyst Dylan Curnell. Potter plans to bolster the size of his recruitment team further. The club recently posted a job advert for a recruitment support analyst. The role entails supporting the first team recruitment department with video analysis, data insights, and artificial intelligence and machine learning integration in scouting operations. Following Evan Ferguson's unconvincing loan spell from Brighton, West Ham remain in the market for a forward. The 20-year-old was not fully fit when he joined in January and failed to score in eight league appearances. He was not in the matchday squad for the last game of the season against Ipswich Town. Michail Antonio, whose deal expires at the end of June, is unlikely to be offered a contract extension, while Niclas Fullkrug has an uncertain future. Potter is not one to disclose which position he wants to strengthen, but he has stated repeatedly that any potential arrival has to be the right fit. 'As a team, we have to be better, for sure,' said Potter following the victory over Ipswich Town. 'I don't like relying on individuals to dig you out of trouble. I think we as a team need to defend and attack better. We've made steps in some areas but, attacking-wise, we can do better. 'Our job now is to improve the squad to make sure the culture and environment that represents this amazing club is there properly and then we can achieve some good things, I think.' The club have identified Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika as one of their top transfer targets. Potter wants to bolster his midfield options, which consist of James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Guido Rodriguez, Edson Alvarez and Andy Irving. Carlos Soler was another alternative, but his loan from Paris Saint-Germain will not be converted into a permanent deal. Advertisement West Ham are one of many Premier League teams that want to sign Onyedika this summer. The 24-year-old's deal expires in the summer of 2027, which does not feature an option to extend. Attackers James McAtee of Manchester City and Anderlecht's Mario Stroeykens remain on West Ham's radar. The club have cooled their interest in Brighton & Hove Albion defender Adam Webster, while their chances of signing Lille duo Jonathan David and Angel Gomes, both of whom are in the final month of their deals, remain slim. The club are still monitoring Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, following Lukasz Fabianski's release. West Ham are adamant captain Jarrod Bowen is not for sale. The England international ended the campaign with 14 goals and 10 assists across 36 appearances in all competitions. Bowen has five years remaining on a seven-year deal he signed in October 2023. West Ham are open to offers for a string of players, including Maxwel Cornet, Emerson Palmieri, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Guido Rodriguez and Edson Alvarez. Mohammed Kudus, meanwhile, could attract interest this summer. The Ghana international scored in the 3-1 victory over relegated side Ipswich Town. The 24-year-old attacker has a buyout clause which is only active for the first 10 days of July and is valued at £80million ($108.3m) for European clubs, £85m for Premier League sides and £120m for Saudi teams. West Ham have not received any formal offers for the attacker. Midfielder Irving could also depart this summer due to a lack of game time. The 25-year-old had interest from European clubs in January but wanted to see out the season. In June 2024, defender Nayef Aguerd joined CanteraSport agency, which also represents Kurt Zouma. The Morocco international has spent this season on loan at Spanish side Real Sociedad. Potter was reluctant to admit whether Aguerd features in his long-term plans ahead of the defeat to Brighton on April 26. Aguerd's contract is set to expire in the summer of 2027. Youngsters Lewis Orford and Kaelan Casey are set for loan spells in the summer. Casey had interest from EFL clubs in last August but stayed after West Ham opted against signing then-free agent John Egan, who later joined Burnley and then moved to Hull City in January. Potter handed Orford his first-team debut in January against Crystal Palace. The 19-year-old, a member of the 2023 FA Youth Cup-winning side, has mainly played for Steve Potts' Under-21s. West Ham are open to loaning out Luis Guilherme so he can gain first-team experience. Last summer's £25m signing from Brazilian side Palmeiras only made 12 league appearances, totalling 139 minutes. Although West Ham are not facing a profit and sustainability (PSR) issue, internally, they have conceded they have to sell before they can buy this summer. Having spent more than £120m last summer, club sources, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, said they were right up against the wages/turnover cap. The departures of Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings and Fabianski will free up salary space.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Transfer Q&A: West Ham's summer plans
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions on the transfer Surrey: I'm a West Ham fan and we need a squad overhaul. I was wondering how you think we should strengthen the squad and which players we'll have to sell to bring players in?Simon: I touched on this in my match report on Sunday. Clearly, the much-hyped recruitment campaign under Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui last summer went badly wrong. Aaron Wan-Bissaka did well and Max Kilman was OK but Crysencio Summerville, Guido Rodriguez, Luis Guilherme and Niclas Fullkrug failed to reach the heights expected on a consistent Ferguson came in as an answer to striking issues in the winter window, but couldn't establish himself. Now, West Ham need to find a way of funding Graham Potter's squad-building plans because the Declan Rice money has gone, there is no European football and West Ham's league position is costing them Premier League prize Lucas Paqueta's future still uncertain, selling Mohammed Kudus is now a distinct possibility. The massive concern for me is around skipper Jarrod Bowen. West Ham could get a lot of money for him, but he feels like someone you build a squad of recruitment Kyle Macaulay will be a key figure in identifying potential targets, having worked with Potter since his days in Sweden. I would think more dynamism in midfield will be a major aim, as well as a consistent goalscorer.
