“SHOCKING West Ham Transfer BOMBSHELL: Sullivan’s Secret Ally Drops MASSIVE Hint on First Signing – Is This REALLY Potter’s Masterplan or a TOTAL Curveball?!”

Graham Potter appears close to beginning his West Ham overhaul with the club’s first permanent signing.

However, there are growing questions over how much influence he has had on the decision.

West Ham have acknowledged the need to sell before they can buy, amid looming financial concerns.

The club is expected to post losses of £80 million in the next accounts and has already borrowed and spent the £69 million owed to them from other clubs via a Barclays Bank deal.

The board insists sales are a priority before they can “start trading,” with a midfield revamp and striker reinforcements at the top of their list.

Lowering the squad’s average age—currently the oldest in the Premier League—is also a key focus.

Under previous management, West Ham spent £155 million on nine players but still ended up with an aging, sluggish, and unbalanced squad.

Potter emphasized before the season’s end that reducing the squad’s age was essential. He noted that younger players typically provide better value and resale potential.

Despite the strategy, West Ham are pressing ahead with a move for 29-year-old Josh Brownhill, a free agent from Burnley, as their first signing. Yet it remains unclear whether Potter had any significant role in this decision.

According to reports, talks with Brownhill are at an advanced stage.

The midfielder, who tallied 18 goals and six assists in the Championship last season, brings energy and leadership—qualities West Ham’s midfield currently lacks.

Former Hammer Scott Parker has been trying to keep him at Burnley following their promotion, but West Ham appears to be leading the race.

However, Brownhill’s age raises questions, especially given Potter’s stated aim of building a younger, more dynamic squad.

Brownhill is nearly 30 and only marginally younger than current midfielders Soucek, Ward-Prowse, and Rodriguez—casting doubt on the club’s supposed youth-focused strategy.

While financially this makes sense for West Ham—no transfer fee and likely moderate wages—some see the move as being more aligned with David Sullivan’s approach than Potter’s.

As the club’s majority owner regains control of transfers, critics question whether the unified and aligned recruitment policy Potter called for is truly in effect.

Potter may value Brownhill’s experience to support a youthful rebuild, but if this signing goes through, fans and observers will scrutinize just how much input Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay have in shaping the squad.

Early signs suggest the club’s transfer strategy may not be as unified as promised.