It has been all doom and gloom for West Ham with the main summer transfer window set to open on Monday but the future could be bright with two signings waiting.
West Ham fans have been venting their fury about the club’s stance on transfers.
The first mini summer transfer window closed with no action in or out for the Hammers.
West Ham continue to insist they are at their PSR limit.
The West Ham board have also revealed a £100m plus loss is coming in the club’s next accounts in December.
Doom and gloom over transfers envelops West Ham
Players must be sold in order for Graham Potter to buy.
And even then the club have stated only 75 per cent of the funds raised from each player will be available to the manager for signings given the money still owed on those for sale.
Supporters are angry at the situation.
Especially less than two years after banking a 100 per cent profit in the mega £105m Declan Rice deal with Arsenal.
In truth West Ham have failed miserably to replace Rice in any way, shape or form.
Particularly his athleticism, ability to carry the ball and that pace, power and energy in midfield.
West Ham have been left with an ageing, immobile and frankly boring midfield roster of players who don’t complement each other and sorely lack in any kind of craft or guile.
That will only get worse with Lucas Paqueta set to either be sold or banned.
Overhauling midfield and adding some of those attributes Rice used to bring is Potter’s number one priority alongside lowering the age of the West Ham squad.
The other top priority is signing new strikers.
While it has been mostly doom and gloom due to financial situation, now is a good time to focus on some positives.
Because West Ham are set to welcome a powerhouse talent likened to Rice on July 1.
Powerhouse likened to Rice will join West Ham with Cummings
And he will be arriving alongside young hotshot Celtic striker Daniel Cummings.
The double addition could help revolutionise Potter’s long-term midfield and forward plans.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed a couple of weeks ago that Cummings, who scored 30 goals in the Scottish pyramid with Celtic B last season, will sign for the Hammers on a free transfer on July 1.
The move for the 19-year-old Scottish goalscoring sensation had been on the cards since January.
Cummings has been lured to east London much to the anger of Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, who even handed the striker his Champions League debut against Aston Villa in a bid to persuade him to stay.
He is expected to be part of Potter’s first team squad as long as he shows the required level in pre-season.
Cummings will be joined as a new West Ham player on July 1 by highly-rated French midfielder Mohamadou Kante.
The Kante deal, done by Tim Steidten last summer, has been forgotten about by many Hammers fans.
West Ham bought Kante from Paris FC as their 10th signing last summer, but loaned him back to the French club as he helped them win promotion to Ligue 1.
The Red Bull-owned club, who have a giant new stadium right on the doorstep of PSG’s Parc Des Princes, reluctantly sold Kante to West Ham after he made it clear he wouldn’t be signing a contract.
Kante cost the Hammers €500k (£425k) plus €400k (£340k) in potential add-on, as reported by The Athletic at the time.
Kante is very highly rated in his homeland and there are big hopes that he will be Les Bleus’ next big midfield star.
He may have been a Steidten signing, but he is very much the profile of player Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay are looking at anyway.
The 19-year-old has pace and power in abundance, and is well-known for his ball-carrying ability.
Forgotten signing Kante can help transform Hammers around Academy stars
Kante is energetic, dynamic, athletic and he has stamina to burn.
The big question will be whether he can step up to the Premier League at such a young age.
Luis Guilherme, if he remains, will be all the better for a year of adjustment at the London Stadium.
Then there is Cummings, Kante and several promising West Ham Academy graduates including Ollie Scarles, Lewis Orford, Freddie Potts and George Earthy.
Suddenly West Ham do start to look like a young up-and-coming side with bags of potential.
Potter has put on record how he thinks building a young team will really help West Ham improve and reconnect with fans.
With three or four sales when the window reopens – which is admittedly easier said than done – Potter can make some more quality additions to fit his philosophy and system.
Then the Hammers might just be able to start looking forward to the new season instead of languishing in doom and gloom.
