Premier League 2025-26 Preview No 19: West Ham United

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 15th (NB: this is not needfully Jacob Steinberg’s prediction but nan mean of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 14th

Prospects

The threat for West Ham is that this is nan play erstwhile their dysfunction catches up pinch them. They person regressed since winning nan Uefa Conference League 2 years ago, excessively galore misguided moves preventing them from kicking on, and rebuilding has not been simple. Funds are tight aft a bid of costly errors successful nan transportation marketplace and Graham Potter is yet to show he is tin of silencing nan acquainted sound of grumbling astatine nan London Stadium.

Some fans fearfulness a relegation conflict beckons. West Ham underwhelmed past season, attempts to move connected from David Moyes’s pragmatism by replacing nan Scot pinch Julen Lopetegui proving predictably short-lived. They vanished 14th, their betterment marginal aft Potter replaced Lopetegui successful January, a consequent tally of 5 wins successful 19 games telling its ain story.

The optimistic reading, though, is that this is nan existent commencement of nan Potter era. The connection was to judge him aft a pre-season. Potter, who is expected to favour a 3-4-2-1 system, has worked connected improving nan team’s mentality. He wants much leadership. It is not a astonishment that Potter has brought successful a sports psychologist. The temper has besides been lifted by Lucas Paquetá, nan influential Brazilian midfielder, being recovered innocent of breaking betting regulations.

Paquetá has impressed during pre-season. Jarrod Bowen, nan captain, continues to present successful onslaught and has shown signs of a productive business pinch Niclas Füllkrug. There person been immoderate encouraging additions, El Hadji Malick Diouf successful peculiar catching nan oculus astatine near wing-back successful pre-season. Potter and Kyle Macaulay, nan caput of recruitment, won a small conflict erstwhile they convinced nan committee to bargain nan Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. Callum Wilson, signed connected a inexpensive short-term deal, offers knowledgeable screen up beforehand – if he tin enactment fit.

More signings are required, though. Several veterans person departed, nan waste of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham leaves a imaginative shortage and Potter’s hopes of making West Ham much proactive astatine location and amended successful possession will dangle connected whether nan nine tin present a No 6 and a No 8. A batch remains up successful nan air. The image will beryllium clearer erstwhile nan model shuts.

The manager

Potter’s estimation is yet to retrieve aft his brutal, ill-fated stint astatine Chelsea. Feted arsenic nan brightest young English coach astir erstwhile he was astatine Brighton, it took only 7 traumatic months astatine Stamford Bridge to propulsion his promising profession disconnected course. Now nan situation is to beryllium nan doubters wrong. West Ham were unsure astir hiring Potter but whitethorn use from his calm, dignity and expertise to amended players connected nan training ground. Patience could beryllium key. Potter is not astir instant success. He has tended to build slowly, truthful West Ham will request to spot him if they commencement slowly.

Graham Potter will beryllium hoping pinch West Ham he tin reconstruct his estimation arsenic 1 of nan champion young English coaches. Photograph: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Getty Images

Off-field picture

Concerns complete profitability and sustainability rules meant West Ham had to waste to bargain astatine nan commencement of nan window. Supporters, though, do not want to perceive nan nine pleading poverty. Many still begrudge nan move to nan unloved London Stadium which, contempt having a capacity of 62,500, has hardly led to a alteration successful West Ham’s fortunes. David Sullivan, nan largest shareholder, is heavy criticised. The 76-year-old is not celebrated but remains highly influential. Less is made of nan portion played by nan Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who bought his liking successful 2021. The Gold family put a proportionality of their liking up for waste almost 2 years ago.

Star signing

West Ham tracked Diouf for much than a twelvemonth but decided against moving for him past summer. Tim Steidten, nan past method director, is understood to person felt nan Senegal world was not bully capable for nan Premier League. It is conscionable arsenic well, then, that nan overhyped Steidten near past February. West Ham looked astatine Diouf again – they needed a left-back aft releasing Aaron Cresswell and putting Emerson Palmieri up for waste – and took nan plunge. They paid £22m for nan 20-year-old, who was fantabulous successful Senegal’s triumph complete England successful June, and are excited astir his crossing ability.

Stepping up

There were precocious hopes for George Earthy aft a productive play connected indebtedness astatine Bristol City. However nan attacking midfielder sustained an ankle ligament wounded astatine nan commencement of pre-season and is still connected nan mend. Earthy will dream to property his declare erstwhile he returns but successful nan meantime each eyes are connected Freddie Potts, who has done good successful pre-season. The 21-year-old, nan boy of nan erstwhile West Ham defender Steve Potts, is simply a deep-lying midfielder and has looked comfortable connected nan shot successful caller friendlies. Ollie Scarles, a 19-year-old left-back, will besides dream for much minutes aft being fixed opportunities past season.

A large play for …

The departure of Kudus intends location will beryllium unit connected Crysencio Summerville to measurement up and nail down a starting spot erstwhile he returns from a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old joined from Leeds past summertime but nan winger is yet to nutrient his champion shape for West Ham. He was a bit-part subordinate nether Lopetegui, who was reluctant to usage nan Dutchman’s velocity and trickery, and has been retired since tearing a hamstring during Potter’s first game. Surgery yet followed and has near Summerville, who is expected to return adjacent month, hopeless to show what he tin do. “When I’m back, it’s going to beryllium showtime,” he said past month.