This No-Brainer Deal For January Is A Must For Graham Potter
Priorities everywhere with a limited budget. Welcome to life at West Ham, Graham Potter. No sooner had the head coach taken to the dugout than three Hammers limped off. Fullkrug is likely finished for the season, to all intents and purposes. Summerville hopefully not so, who along with Mavropanos could be back shortly.
But it makes the case for looking again at players already in the current employment of West Ham who can be recalled – Lopetegui’s loan decisions made in August- all need to be revisited by the new coaching regime.
The absolute, stand-out, must – fix cock up from the summer is the James Ward-Prowse loan to Nottingham Forest. Arguments can come and go as to whether Ward-Prowse was ever worth the £30 million, that isn’t the point. The whole question now is ‘does he make West Ham’s midfield stronger’ and the answer to that is a resounding ‘yes’.
Indeed, as reported in nottinghamforest.news (“Graham Potter could be about to make huge West Ham decision on Nottingham Forest loanee James Ward-Prowse”) – West Ham fans could not argue that the squad would be stronger for his recall: It would allow Rodriguez to leave, at which there’d be a universal sigh of relief. Bringing Potts and Earthy, too, lest I forget the dynamic duo of Hammers youngsters, would further strengthen the squad and regular readers will know I have been banging on about them for weeks too.
Forest have hardly utilised Ward-Prowse since his red card and as per our earlier discussion with Claret and Hugh’s source in December, the possibility exists, if both clubs agree, to end his loan.
Strengthening the squad’s midfield depth at zero cost to the club will also allow the financial resources to be fully utilised on buying a striker. And that, until the summer, will likely have to suffice.
Fullkrug’s three months-plus hamstring injury means improving the pace in the midfield is likely second priority now.
