West Ham Online

May as well get going with this since with Sullivan at the helm, season ticket renewals slow, and the football vacuum to commence, this will soon be all the "news" there is.

Can Potter and MacCauley pull multiple rabbits out of the hat, or will Sullivan 'try really hard' with all of them before grabbing a few aging bargains from Big Willie Salthouse?

Window this close season comes in two parts:

Part 1: 1st June to 10th June
Part 2: 16th June to 1st September

Rumoured Outs...most of the squad

Let the "Rumoured In's" commence. 

------------------------------------------------------------

Player | Position | Club | Fee (GBP)

Rumoured In

1. Daniel Cummings | ST | Celtic
2. Koni De Winter | CB | Genoa
3. Morten Frendrup | DM | Genoa
4. Richard Kone | ST | Wycombe
5. Aaron Ramsdale | GK | Southampton
6. Caiomin Kelleher | GK | Liverpool
7. James Trafford | GK | Burnley
8. Kyle Walker-Peters | FB | Free Agent
9. Taylor Harwood-Bellis | CB | Southampton
10. CJ Egan-Riley | CB | Free Agent
11. Josh Brownhill | CM | Free Agent
12. Albian Hajdari | CB | Lugano
13. Lucas Høgsberg | CB | FC Nordsjælland
14. Ardon Jashari | CM | Brugge
15. Raphael Onyedika | CM | Brugge
16. James McAtee | AM | Man City
17. Mario Struykens | AM | Anderlecht
18. Mathias Kvistgaarden | ST | Brondby
19. Clement Bischoff | LB | Brondby
20. Mika Biereth | FW | Monaco
21. Barış Alper Yılmaz | AM | Galatasaray
22. Evann Guessand | ST | Nice
23. Lucas Stassin | ST | Saint Etienne
24. Marcus Taverner | FW | Bournemouth
25. Soungoutoo Magassa | CDM | Monaco
26. Valentin Atangana | CM | Stade Reims
27. Mads Hermansen | GK | Leicester City
28. Hamza Igamane | ST | Rangers
29. Yeremay | FW | Deportivo La Coruna
30. Adama Bojang | ST | Reims
31. Rocco Reitz | MF | Borussia Moenchengladbach
32. Dominic Calvert-Lewin | ST | Free Agent
33. El Hadji Malick Diouf | LB | SK Slavia Prague
34. Oscar Mingueza | RB/MF | Celta Vigo
35. Tyler Morton | CM | Liverpool
36. Harvey Elliott | AM | Liverpool
37. Zion Suzuki | GK | Parma
38. John Victor | GK | Botofogo 
39. Jacob Ramsey | MF | Villa
40. Mateus Fernandes | CM | Southampton
41. Nga Makou | CM | Lille
42. Quinten Timber | CM
43. Hayden Hackney | CM | Boro
44. Yves Bissouma | CM | Spurs

Rumoured Out

1. Nayef Aguerd | CB | Leverkusen, Marseile
2. Maxel Cornet | FW | Genoa/Others
3. Guido Rodriguez | DM | Betis/Espanyol
4. Tomas Soucek | CM | Everton
5. Michail Antonio | ST | Free Agent
6. Mo Kudus | FW | Chelsea/Newcastle/Arsenal
7. Lucas Paqueta | AM | Man City
8. Andy Irving | CM | Celtic/Wrexham
9. Emerson | LB | Marseille

Confirmed In

1. Jean Clair Todibo | CB | Loan To Perm (32m)
2. Daniel Cummings | ST | Celtic (Free Agent...Tribunal)
3. El Hadji Malick Diouf | LWB | Slavia Prahia | 20m
4. Kyle Walker-Peters | RWB | Free Agent
5. C****m Wilson | ST | Free Agent
6. Mads Hermansen | GK | Leicester (18m)
7. Mateus Fernandes | CM | Southampton (38m + 4m)
8. Soungoutoo Magassa | CDM | Monaco (17m)
9. Igor Julio | CB | Brighton (Loan)

Confirmed Out

1. Aaron Cresswell | LB | Free Agent | 0m
2. Danny Ings | ST | Free Agent | 0m
3. Vladimir Coufal | RB | Free Agent | 0m
4. Lukusz Fabianski | GK | Free Agent | 0m
5. Kamari Swyer | AM | Free Agent | 0m
6. Kurt Zouma | CB | Free Agent | 0m
7. Carlos Soler | CM | PSG | End of Loan
8. Evan Ferguson | ST | Brighton | End of Loan
9. Brad Dolaghan | Released
10. Dondre Abraham | Released
11. Mehmet Halim | Released
12. Muhammed Judus |stroppy| sp*rs| £55m
13. Michail Antonio | Released
14. Kieran Casey | Swansea | Loan
15. Edson Alvarez | Fenerbache | Loan with Option
16. Emerson | Marseille | £1m
17. Aguerd | Marseille | £20m
18. Max Cornet | Genoa | Loan

goose wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 20:51

Barty888 wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 20:47 Reitz and Sudakov will be signed next week according to valid sources 

Did Elon Musk tell you?

This John fella? It’s a big fuck off from me.

What bothers me is that he’s 29 and only appears to have played one full season of first team football.

goose wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 20:41 It’s obviously heavily edited but this video does have a whiff of Roberto about it.

From a NY times article...

compare to the Premier League’s elite crop of goalkeepers, and what could he bring to United?

The Ederson parallel

To understand what makes John stand out, we should consider the clarity and quality of his distribution. Possessing the composure and technical ability to pass out from the back has become a non-negotiable for goalkeepers at top clubs — but while many modern ‘keepers are proficient in playing short to maintain possession, John flips the script: he’s at his best when going long.

Much like Ederson, whose direct passing transformed Manchester City’s build-up play, John can bypass entire midfields with one well-hit ball. His passes are driven rather than floated, making them harder to intercept. Whether spraying to wide areas for wingers running into space or playing over the top to stretch a defensive line, John thrives in these moments and can kick from box to box with ease.

This season, John is completing long passes at a rate of 53.4 per cent, up from 50.4 per cent last year, while his overall passing accuracy has risen to 80.8 per cent. For comparison, United’s current No 1 Andre Onana — who is far more involved in build-up play and averages significantly more short and medium-range passes — had a long pass accuracy of just 36.6 per cent in the Premier League last season, with an overall passing accuracy of 72.6 per cent.

Sudakov looks a player, so I definitely don't believe that 

Barty888 wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 20:47 Reitz and Sudakov will be signed next week according to valid sources 

Reitz and Sudakov will be signed next week according to valid sources 

Just for a bit of balance:

It’s obviously heavily edited but this video does have a whiff of Roberto about it.

Doesn't seem like it if as the info on this bloke says good shot stopper but not good with his feet which is what Potter is apparently looking for. That's just the same weaknesses as Areola in which case we might as well just stick with him and foderingham.

That and Sullivan was apparently approached by a well known agent offering this player to him, which would likely take Potter out of the equasion. Sure we'll probably never know for 100% but it's got all the hallmarks of a Sullivan instigated signing.

The “Sullivan Effect” is in full flow. Everyone now sees it. 

10 more years before David Snr snuffs it then we get David Jnr who has been lined up to continue the Sullivan legacy of ineptitude and failure

So the same Itk says that as said we were in for him in the first place, maybe it's all bollocks and we never were. Like we were probably never interested in Elliot... Like Paqueta had practically agreed to join Flamenco and was definitely off. How do we know Potter isn't the one who wants him?  

fraser wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 20:06

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 19:29



Been hearing that this goalie is being brought in because he doesn't insist on being number one choice. He's willing to just compete with Areola for the shirt. We don't owe Areola any spared feelings. He's not good enough. Get someone clearly better. Not some bloke who might or might not displace him. Improve the position rather than add more mediocrity to it. What a fucking waste of time and money. It's embarrassing. Wilson isn't even going to compete for Fullkrug's shirt. We all know he's only there to ride the bench. What the fuck is the point in buying these players from a footballing point of view? They make zero improvement to the team. Potter has probably made his job more difficult by virtue of us playing OK in the US and not getting thrashed each game.

I now think Brownhill WILL be the midfielder and the only midfielder we bring in. Potts turning out to be decent will have given Sullivan all the excuse he needs to keep his wallet shut. It doesn't help that we clearly can't shift any of the garbage players already on stupid contracts and wages at the club. We've a couple players who are basically unsellable for anything other than an enormous loss, and a bunch of others who not a single other club would want.

Fuck Sullivan.

Being brought in because he isn't insisting on being first choice, so the one we were going to spend a fortune on wasn't happy to not be guaranteed first choice, does it seem likely we would spend over £20 million on a keeper that wasn't going to be first choice, sounds like a lot of bollocks to me, makes zero sense. 

We never spend big on a keeper and if we did they would be first choice 

El Scorchio" wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 19:29



Been hearing that this goalie is being brought in because he doesn't insist on being number one choice. He's willing to just compete with Areola for the shirt. We don't owe Areola any spared feelings. He's not good enough. Get someone clearly better. Not some bloke who might or might not displace him. Improve the position rather than add more mediocrity to it. What a fucking waste of time and money. It's embarrassing. Wilson isn't even going to compete for Fullkrug's shirt. We all know he's only there to ride the bench. What the fuck is the point in buying these players from a footballing point of view? They make zero improvement to the team. Potter has probably made his job more difficult by virtue of us playing OK in the US and not getting thrashed each game.

I now think Brownhill WILL be the midfielder and the only midfielder we bring in. Potts turning out to be decent will have given Sullivan all the excuse he needs to keep his wallet shut. It doesn't help that we clearly can't shift any of the garbage players already on stupid contracts and wages at the club. We've a couple players who are basically unsellable for anything other than an enormous loss, and a bunch of others who not a single other club would want.

Fuck Sullivan.

Jean-Luc Paul Goddard" wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 18:55 LOL. You're probably one of those Berks who thinks he's trousering all the money.

This Brazilian keeper is more squad fodder.

Looks like they've given up trying to find (the funds for) a better keeper than Areola.

Long, hard season ahead. Especially once Fullkrug's knee or hammy goes. If it's Bowen who gets a long-term injury, we really are fucked.

Still, think positively: Wilson will be out of contract and 34 years old when we're scratching around for a Championship striker...

I'd just give the guy the tools to do the job to the best of his ability. The player profile he's looking to bring in will be useable for most prospective replacement managers and will have resale value should some reshaping be needed. Callum Wilson and this keeper won't be and won't have.

If you think the guy might fail just fucking sack him now and appoint someone you have full faith in and are willing to back to the hilt. No manager is going to succeed being forced to work like this with being given a bunch of scraps who aren't even going to be first choice in a squad already full of mediocrity which needs improving, not padding out with more mediocre shit.

Been hearing that this goalie is being brought in because he doesn't insist on being number one choice. He's willing to just compete with Areola for the shirt. We don't owe Areola any spared feelings. He's not good enough. Get someone clearly better. Not some bloke who might or might not displace him. Improve the position rather than add more mediocrity to it. What a fucking waste of time and money. It's embarrassing. Wilson isn't even going to compete for Fullkrug's shirt. We all know he's only there to ride the bench. What the fuck is the point in buying these players from a footballing point of view? They make zero improvement to the team. Potter has probably made his job more difficult by virtue of us playing OK in the US and not getting thrashed each game.

I now think Brownhill WILL be the midfielder and the only midfielder we bring in. Potts turning out to be decent will have given Sullivan all the excuse he needs to keep his wallet shut. It doesn't help that we clearly can't shift any of the garbage players already on stupid contracts and wages at the club. We've a couple players who are basically unsellable for anything other than an enormous loss, and a bunch of others who not a single other club would want.

Fuck Sullivan.

Russ of the BML" wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 16:03 From that Youtube reel the Brazilian keeper looks the bollocks at shot stopping. No doubt. 

But what that reel doesn't show once is him with the ball at his feet and playing out, nor does it show him coming for crosses. Two major factors for GK now. 

If we do get him (which is now looking highly likely according to transfer news), I hope some cսnt at the club has done more than just watch that Youtube reel. 

I think he could well be mindful to watch the pennies knowing full well that if Potter gets off to a bad start carried on from last season, the likelihood is that he'll have to be prepared to cough up a fair chunk of money to try and rectify it should he have to sack him. I thought it was crazy to reward an unsuccessful manager a 2 and a half year contract mid-season as it could get very expensive for the wanker.

LOL. You're probably one of those Berks who thinks he's trousering all the money.

Sullivan is holding back money incase Potter is sacked, sorry but that's a load of bollocks if ever i heard it.

Agree. The only consideration he has about a new manager is how much they are going to cost him to hire. Never mind anything else about them. The penny pinching extends all the way up from the very bottom, to basically the most important decision an owner can make, 

Avram Grant- unemployed and cheap
Sam Allardyce- unemployed although probably not dirt cheap
Slaven Bilic- unemployed and cheap
David Moyes- unemployed and cheap
Manuel Pellegrini- did we actually hire him while still employed? Probably not cheap, but a disaster
David Moyes II- see above
Lopetegui- unemployed although probably not that cheap. Arranged by Salthouse
Potter- unemployed and presumably quite cheap

Fucking bleak. Reeks of frugality and sometimes favours over all other considerations. Mostly damaged assets in need of a break to rebuild their careers. Allardyce and Moyes probably the only ones who didn't sink without trace afterwards, but it looks like the shine is coming off for Moyes pretty quickly at Everton.

I know it's not a popular POV but I think Potter could build something here given the resources he desires, but no chance of that. 
 

The thing is, if Sullivan had any kind of idea about succession management then he'd already have in mind a list of future managerial possibilities and should know enough about them to know what sort of players they would want.

Really the club should have a certain style of play/formation in mind and choose managers accordingly, not just because of their availability or which top clubs they used to manage. That way the players should mostly fit with whoever the new manager is. What we get instead is this continual swing from one style to another, necessitating a long and uncomfortable transition and a large turnover of players.

We'll probably end up with a manager who likes a tight defensive back 4 and won't like the two wing backs we got this summer or the 3 "ball playing" centre backs and it'll be all change at the back again, when we need to focus on the midfield and attack.

Jean-Luc Paul Goddard" wrote: ↑04 Aug 2025, 17:20 I've said this before but it's pretty obvious that Sullivan is holding back transfer funds because he knows that there's a very good chance he'll need to spend that dough on sacking Potter and replacing him and his team and then probably having to give the new guy transfer funds in January. Or, if somehow Potter turns things around completely and shows himself worthy then maybe he'll be the one who gets to spend a bit in January.

All in all, it would have been a surprise if we didn't underspend this summer, even more than usual.