There’s no rest for Graham Potter this summer, as the Hammers boss gets to work reshaping the squad after a challenging 2024/25 season that saw us finish 15th — far below what fans expect at the London Stadium.
With Vladimir Coufal waving goodbye, Potter’s already acted fast. In comes Kyle Walker-Peters on a free — bringing vital Premier League experience at right-back. The gaffer has also secured El Hadji Malick Diouf, a classy and versatile operator who can play at centre-back or step into midfield with ease.
But the rebuild isn’t done yet.
With Mohammed Kudus snapped up by Spurs, and a few more names having headed for the exit, more reinforcements are clearly needed. And it looks like Potter has his eye on a big one…
West Ham Tracking Luiz
According to The Sun, West Ham are among the clubs interested in bringing Douglas Luiz back to the Premier League.
The Brazilian midfielder, who joined Juventus last summer from Aston Villa, hasn’t quite settled in Italy — and now looks ready for a return to English football. Potter is reportedly “tracking the Juventus player,” and although we’re not alone in the race (Everton are sniffing around too), West Ham could be a real contender.
A source told SunSport: “Luiz is set to become one of the most coveted players of the window. Everton and West Ham are keen, but others may well join the bidding.”
Juve are understood to prefer a permanent deal, but might also consider a loan to help lighten their wage bill.
Luiz, once described as “dominant” by Premier League legend Alan Shearer, originally moved to England in 2017, but work permit issues saw him leave without playing a match. It wasn’t until 2019 that he truly made his mark with Aston Villa.
And what a mark it was. Across five strong seasons at Villa Park, Luiz racked up 175 Premier League appearances, notching 20 goals and 18 assists. A combative ball-winner with a touch of flair, he could be exactly what the Irons need to bring steel and creativity back into the middle of the park.
Stay tuned, Hammers — this one could be a big move if it happens.
