West Ham had scouts watch rapid German as David Moyes favourite is told he can leave . West Ham’s transfer plans are taking shape as scouts were spotted watching a potential target – with Graham Potter ready to let a previously key player go.
When Graham Potter put the West Ham squad on notice after the defeat to Wolves, he clearly wasn’t playing around. The Hammers boss has had the rare luxury of what is essentially a mammoth pre-season to assess the team he has inherited.
And very few have staked a claim to remain at West Ham beyond the summer.
When Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui, the club was 13th in the Premier League.
Now they sit 17th, facing the possibility of end a dreadful campaign as the worst team in the top flight outside the bottom three.
That will not make attracting players easy and West Ham have big plans to overhaul the team in the summer.
Potter making it clear who can leave West Ham
Graham Potter wants eight in and 11 could leave as part of his West Ham rebuild. West Ham’s owners have made it clear sales are needed to raise funds due to PSR.
The Hammers have confirmed a striker is a priority.
But Potter’s midfield also needs to be completely revamped. As well as a new centre-back and possibly a goalkeeper too.
The full-back positions are also set to see some changes at the London Stadium.
And West Ham had scouts watch a rapid German as a David Moyes favourite is told he can leave. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been a revelation at West Ham and will be named Hammer of the Year in his debut season.
That has meant the ageing Vladimir Coufal has barely had a look-in.
Potter has hardly used the Czech defender, who is unhappy at being denied a move to Fulham in January.
It seems almost certain Coufal will depart this summer but Potter has also signalled to Emerson Palmieri he can leave.
A big favourite of Moyes and a key player in West Ham’s run to Europa Conference League glory, Emerson has lost his place to young Ollie Scarles under Potter.
West Ham had scouts watch rapid German
Even after impressing as a sub in recent games, Emerson was left on the bench against Liverpool despite Scarles struggling up against Mohammed Salah and being subbed off. Coufal came on instead of Emerson with Wan-Bissaka switching across to the left.
That was Potter’s way of making it clear – if it wasn’t already – that Emerson will be leaving the club this summer.
Now we know who the manager and head of recruitment want as his replacement. It is not yet clear from his performances so far whether West Ham will be able to count on Scarles as their starting left-back next season.
Hammers watch Brown as Emerson gets green light to leave
The 19-year-old has been through peaks and troughs in his fledgling Hammers career.
And he may need more time being dipped in and out of the action.
So it makes sense that West Ham are planning to bring in another impressive young left-back to share the load.
West Ham scouts were in attendance for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League clash at Tottenham Hotspur last week watching left-back Nathaniel Brown.
And Hammers News understands he will be watched again this week in the second leg at the scene of West Ham’s Europa League semi-final heartache three years ago.
Football correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed to Hammers News that Eintracht full-back Brown – who is a Germany Under 21 international of American and German heritage – is very much being checked out by West Ham.
Potter’s big problem is that a host of other Premier League clubs, including Man City are interested too.
West Ham target Brown can also play in central midfield
But none would be able to offer Brown the guarantee of being a regular starter.
Brown is much quicker and more powerful than Scarles.
The 21-year-old is better going forward, something the Hammers Academy graduate needs to improve on if he is to carve out a career in the top flight.
West Ham have needed young, pacy full-backs for years. Wan-Bissaka has solved the right-back issue. Now Brown could be the answer to the problem at left-back, with Scarles sharing the responsibility as he builds himself up.
The great thing about Brown is that he can play just as well in central midfield – another area West Ham need to address.
He actually shone in a midfield role against Spurs with West Ham’s scouts watching on. AC Milan, Juventus and Turkish sides have all been linkedwith Emerson, who could fetch West Ham around £7m this summer.
