The West Ham Summer 2025 transfer thread

[Ethanadict]

We all have an opinion on what positions Potter needs to fill, or players to bring in (quite a lot) but realistically, the Rice money is all but spent so let’s keep suggestions realistic and consider sales too.

At the time of writing this we don’t know Paquetà’s fate. That for me influences whether we keep or sell Kudus. I’d rather we didn’t sell him unless stupid money comes from Saudi Arabia to allow a squad rebuild.

After the season he’s had, Aguerd should command a decent price and I expect he will be sold as it sounds like he wants to go. 2 years left on his contract… £30m? Might we get something for Irving?

We don’t have many other players leaving who will command transfers but it will help to get some wages off our books. Whether you like them or not the following are all on our books and their time is probably up: Cresswell (35) Antonio (35) Fabianski (40!) Cornet, Rodriguez, Ings, Soler, Zouma

With limited funds I think we can only prioritise three positions:

- We have to get a CB that commands the box and wins headers having lost Dawson, Zouma and Ogbonna. Someone who can play in a three alongside Todibo and Kilman.

- A dynamic CM with pace, preferably young. We missed out Onana twice to Everton and Villa and I don’t see him coming now. But that’s the sort of quality of pace, strength and power we need.

- A striker like Fulkrug. A proper striker who can hold the ball makes such a difference to the whole team, laying off to the likes of Bowen and Kudus. Ings has to go, I cannot see Antonio making it back. Judging from this season, we cannot rely on Fulkrug getting through more than half the games. We need a second striker and it looks like Ferguson isn’t going to be that guy.

If there’s the money for a fourth, it’s GK. We can’t rely on Fab as a reserve any longer surely. Ramsdale would be a great boost if we could get him.

I think the rest of the squad is ok, with good squad players giving us mostly two players in each position, such Coufal behind Wan-Bissaka, or Summerville and Guilherme being good options off the bench for Kudus and Bowen.

[Puff Daddy]

A waspish little **** of a striker, to play off The Big ****ing German. A sort of Tony Cottee or Robbie Fowler type striker. A pairing like that will get loads of goals

[Southminster Hammer]

A waspish little **** of a striker, to play off The Big ****ing German. A sort of Tony Cottee or Robbie Fowler type striker. A pairing like that will get loads of goals

Bowen's twin left-sided forward would be better imo.

[YeOldHammer]

This is our team and contracts according to Transfermarkt and the West Ham OS https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/west-ha ... verein/379

Goalkeepers

Lukasz Fabianski - 30 June 2025 - Club option 1 year
Wes Foderingham - 30 June 2026
Alphonse Areola - 30 June 2027 - Option for a further year

Defenders

Aaron Cresswell - 30 June 2025
Kurt Zouma - ?
Vladmir Coufal - 30 June 2025
Konstantinos Mavropanos -30 June 2028
Jean-Clair Todibo - ? - Option to buy with conditions
Maximillian Kilman -30 June 2031
Nayef Aguerd - ?
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 30 June 2031
Emerson Palmieri - 30 June 2026 - Option for a further year
Kaelan Casey - 30 June 2027
Oliver Scarles - 30 June 2028 - Option for a further year

Midfielders

Carols Soler - ? - Option to buy
James Ward-Prowse - 30 June 2027
Lucas Paqueta - 30 June 2027 - Option for a further year
Mohammed Kudus -30 June 2028
Luis Guilherme - 30 June 2029
Edson Omar Alvarez Velazquez - 30 June 2028
Maxwel Cornet - ?
Guido Rodriguez - 30 June 2027
Tomas Soucek - 30 June 2027
Andrew Irving - 30 June 2026

Attackers

Crysencio Summerville - 30 June 2029 - Option for a further year
Michail Antonio - 30 June 2025
Niclas Fullkrug - 30 June 2028
Danny Ings - 30 June 2025
Jarrod Bowen - 30 June 2030
Evan Ferguson - ?


Some of this information maybe out of date for when transkermarkt was last updated.

[DusseldorfHammer]

Some of this information maybe out of date for when transkermarkt was last updated.
[/quote]Cornet is until 2027, with option for a further year.

[steveyrockstar]

A waspish little **** of a striker, to play off The Big ****ing German. A sort of Tony Cottee or Robbie Fowler type striker. A pairing like that will get loads of goals

Surely that'll be Bowen cutting in from the right (and similarly either Summerville or Kudus from the left). I don't think Potter would play 2 centre forwards, more a central striker with 2 Bowen-esque forward/wingers either side

[e17]

3 centre backs
2 speedy midfielders
a left back
a striker
Possibly a keeper

[e17]

A waspish little **** of a striker, to play off The Big ****ing German. A sort of Tony Cottee or Robbie Fowler type striker. A pairing like that will get loads of goals

So Bowen then

[Peaches]

I think we will see the biggest squad turnover yet. Fabianski, Coufal, Cresswell, and Ings will not have their contracts renewed. I would also be surprised if Antonio at 35 coming of a near life ending injury comes back. Soler and Ferguson will go back to their parent clubs. Paqueta won’t be playing for us next season one way or another. That is 8 out without actively trying to move anyone. Rodriguez and the Scottish Pirlo don’t seem to be in Potter’s plans they will leave for small fees. Kudus will be sold to the highest bidder, as will Mavropanos, but under very different circumstances.
I can also see 2 or 3 of Soucek, Fullkrug, Alvarez, Areola and Emerson also leaving if good bids come in for them. I expect Emerson will probably go along with 1 or 2 of the others. They are all 30 or over and on big wages. It is also possible Todibo and Guilherme are sold for a profit. I don’t expect either Cornet or Aguerd returning.
That leaves Foderingham, AWB, Kilman, Scarles, JWP, Bowen and Summerville as the only players you can count on being here. I expect you probably add back in all but 2 or 3 of Areola, Todibo, Fullkrug, Soucek, Emerson Alvarez, Todibo and Guilherme, but it will still leave at least a dozen new players to bring in. Casey, Potts, and Earthy probably take 3 of those spots, but I am pretty sure we will need to bring in 9 new players. GK, 2CB, 2FB, 2CM, and 2 FW.

[Hammer.CA]

I saw Josh Sargent’s goal against Plymouth yesterday, really impressed with it. He’s got 14 so far this season. I’ve no idea what he might cost but the local media seems to think that he’s outgrown Norwich.

[norse]

Cornet is until 2027, with option for a further year.

I see he's 2 goals and 1 assist in 6 games in Italy (goal point every 117 minute), very good for him - and also us, means we maybe can get some money for him in the summer

[HoustonHammer24]

If it were realistic, I would be ruthless with every out of contract player and cull them all. But seeing as we will have huge overturn for the next 2-3 years, it might be in our best interest to keep a few of the "senior" figures around to help in this transition.

Keep: Fabianski, Cresswell, possibly even Antonio if he is willing to take a severely reduced base salary with incentives based on appearances. These types of players are good for a dressing room where Potter will need a few leaders.
Offload: Coufal. Love him, but he's made enough noise about his unhappiness. If he's offered a deal from Fulham or similar to stay in the league, he has to take it. Irving I would send on loan to the championship. I would hold off on the option to buy unless someone offers a decent deal.
Ings gone, Soler loan expiring, Ferguson loan expiring, Cornet take whatever we can get, same with Rodriguez. Zouma is essentially already gone.

Potentially big outgoing sales: Aguerd, Alvarez, Paqueta (big ? here), Kudus. Aguerd we need to sell while his stock his high, we are historically terrible at that. Alvarez I think will have interest and if we can get 25m+ we should use that to bring in a midfielder that Potter specifically wants.
Paqueta I would keep if he wins his case, but I can see us offloading regardless. Kudus I would definitely keep unless Saudi come in with a monster bid. Could be key to a rebuild, but I doubt we scoop up a player of his quality anytime soon.

Incomings: 1-2 ST, 2-3 CMs, a commanding CB, and a LB. Could see the value of Walker-Peters since he can play both RB and LB well. Will need a player like Trossard/Gross if Kudus leaves, but this can be a hidden gem that Potter/Macauley unearth rather than an expensive signing.

A LOT of work to be done. Good luck to Potter and the recruitment team with Sullivan trying to interfere at every possible moment.

[Roby]

If it were realistic, I would be ruthless with every out of contract player and cull them all. But seeing as we will have huge overturn for the next 2-3 years, it might be in our best interest to keep a few of the "senior" figures around to help in this transition.

Agree in us needing to be ruthless.

I’d keep Cresswell for another season but release the rest.

Zouma
Fabianski
Ings
Coufal
Antonio

Soler and Ferguson return to their parent clubs.

That is 7 senior pros off the wage bill as from July 1st and gives us a lot of space for a re-build.

[Ethanadict]

I think we will see the biggest squad turnover yet. Fabianski, Coufal, Cresswell, and Ings will not have their contracts renewed. I would also be surprised if Antonio at 35 coming of a near life ending injury comes back. Soler and Ferguson will go back to their parent clubs. Paqueta won’t be playing for us next season one way or another. That is 8 out without actively trying to move anyone. Rodriguez and the Scottish Pirlo don’t seem to be in Potter’s plans they will leave for small fees. Kudus will be sold to the highest bidder, as will Mavropanos, but under very different circumstances.
I can also see 2 or 3 of Soucek, Fullkrug, Alvarez, Areola and Emerson also leaving if good bids come in for them. I expect Emerson will probably go along with 1 or 2 of the others. They are all 30 or over and on big wages. It is also possible Todibo and Guilherme are sold for a profit. I don’t expect either Cornet or Aguerd returning.
That leaves Foderingham, AWB, Kilman, Scarles, JWP, Bowen and Summerville as the only players you can count on being here. I expect you probably add back in all but 2 or 3 of Areola, Todibo, Fullkrug, Soucek, Emerson Alvarez, Todibo and Guilherme, but it will still leave at least a dozen new players to bring in. Casey, Potts, and Earthy probably take 3 of those spots, but I am pretty sure we will need to bring in 9 new players. GK, 2CB, 2FB, 2CM, and 2 FW.

Crikey Peaches, you’re pretty well informed. Is this your opinion, or do you have a good idea that most of this is happening?

Too much player turnover never turns out well.

[OftenUnderchuffed]

With Southampton officially relegated, I really hope we don’t sign any of the following:

Ramsdale – good shot-stopper, but poor concentration and distribution. If we sign a keeper, it should be an upgrade on Areola, not essentially the same player.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis – arguably has potential, but another ball playing centre back who struggles with the physical side of the game is the last thing we need, given our current options. With Sully back at the wheel, the agent links worry me.

Tyler Dibling – clearly has huge potential, and if we had an unlimited budget I’d happily take him, but given the likely transfer fee and the fact he plays in the same position as Bowen, Kudus, and Luis G, it would be a mad signing in the one position we don’t need a new player.


On the other hand, I would happily take KWP on a free. His strengths (passsing, dribbling, speed) compliment what we need, and the wingback system covers most of his deficiencies. With Coufal going, he’d be the perfect back-up to AWB on the right, and is probably a better option at LWB than both Scarles and Emerson, as things stand.

The one player I really want from Southampton though, who I haven’t seen mentioned much on here, is Mateus Fernandes. He’s only 20, but Saints fans rate him as their best outfield player by a mile this season, and the stats back them up on this. Really promising 8 or 10, who is a great progressive passer and ball carrier, but also works incredibly hard defensively.

[Ethanadict]

That’s a really useful list to refer to, nice work Ye Old Hammer!

[HoustonHammer24]

By position, I think the ideal rebuild would look like this.

GK: Offload Areola, bring in a new #1 and keep Fabianski/Foderingham as backup/training ground GKs.
RB: AWB starts, offload Coufal and bring in a new RB. Walker-Peters can play both positions and is on a free. We will have a decent wage budget.
CB: Todibo is already ours. Offload Aguerd to offset most of Todibo's transfer fee and use a chunk of the budget to sign a commanding CB.
LB: Scarles #1, unless KWP comes in and is playing better than Scarles. Keep Cresswell as backup LCB, LB, and a leader in the dressing room.
CM: Complete rebuild. Offload Rodriguez, Soler, Alvarez. Irving to go on loan. Listen to offers for Paqueta, Soucek and JWP but only offload if decent money is offered. Likely doesn't happen, so I see them staying. Bring in an Alvarez destroyer type who is more comfortable on the ball, a b2b powerhouse capable of breaking the lines with his dribbling, and a creative player with an eye for a pass.
LM: Kudus will be the starter here unless we receive silly money from Saudi. Summerville can play here as well and hopefully will be fully fit next season. Guilherme as well is an option. Nothing needed unless we offload Kudus, replacement can be a punt rather than finished article.
RM: Bowen is the starter, Kudus can play here and so can Summerville/Guilherme. Again, nothing needed here unless we offload Kudus.
CF: Big rebuild here. Offload Ings, only keep Antonio if he accepts a hugely incentive-based deal. Otherwise offload. Ferguson loan expiring. Keep Fullkrug. Would love Jonathan David and a ST like Emegha. Likely unrealistic for both though.

Massive task ahead this summer.

[Gsbgsb]

Space but little or no money to fill it once we have spent £30m plus on Todibo.

You have to suspect the budget for the summer absent sales and given league position, no Europe etc will be a fraction of last year. Todibo could easily take up 40% - 50% or so of that budget depending on how much we actually have to pay.

Sales will depend on who other people want and how much they are willing to pay as much as if not more than who we would like to sell. Probably the first midfielder we would like out the door is Guido but he might well prove the most difficult to shift.

I suspect this will prove a very difficult summer and many that people want out - age, injury, performance or whatever will still be here next season and it will be up to Potter to build a team with them at least as squad options.

[westlondonhammer]

Priority starters:
Towering CB (I concede on this)
Energetic box to box with steel
Deep lying CB who can control / dictate possession
Left side full back / wing back

Priority competition:
Centre forward
Right full back / wing back

To facilitate this you're looking at Alvarez, Guido and Emerson being sold. I still think we'll get a couple of bosmans amd loans. All out of contract bar Antonio and Cresswell to go. Soler not to be kept...unsure about Fergie at this stage.

Then it's about replacing players... we will likely invite bids for a large number of players (Soucek for anything north of 20, Kudus for anything larger than 70 mil, Mavropanos for money back, Areola, Luis G for money back, Fullkrug for anything north of 25 mil, Aguerd for 25 mil).

Minimum 6 ins... but maximum could be significantly more

[WCpete]

I think we have up to 14 players who need replacing, a couple for the purposes of raising funds because I think we could only make a profit on a couple. It will be impossible to move that many on and replace them. Whatever the case, my expectation is that we will have another summer overhaul, we’ll all promise to be patient while the squad coalesces and then we’ll start calling for the manager’s scalp by early October when we’re not dominating every game.