Graham Potter delivers first West Ham transfer update with more new signings possible

Graham Potter says he has “no expectation” that West Ham will add to their squad during this month’s transfer window, but believes he will be backed in the market should the “right player” become available.

Potter’s appointment as the new Hammers boss was confirmed on Thursday morning, with the former Chelsea manager signing a two-and-a-half year contract to replace the sacked Julen Lopetegui.

The Englishman takes over almost a third of the way through the January window, with many Irons supporters desperate for reinforcements to help revive a season that is already in danger of fizzling out at the halfway stage.

In particular, the Hammers look short in attack, with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen both sidelined with long-term injuries. However, when asked whether signings this month were expected - or even a necessity - Potter said: “No, I don’t think there’s an expectation.

“In every window there's always a responsibility for the club to look and to see if there's anything that can help us, whether that's short-term, medium-term, long-term.

“The January window is not the most easy of windows, it can be complicated. So, I have no expectations in terms of that.

“It’s more that my focus is on the team that we've got, the players that we've got, how I can try to help them. And then at the same time, always be aware of opportunities that can come.”

West Ham’s recruitment strategy is under scrutiny, with a number of high-profile summer signings yet to fire.

Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme has played just 38 minutes since his £25million arrival, while former Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug has scored only two Premier League goals, having struggled with injury through the first half of the campaign.

Meanwhile, the additions of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo have failed to stabilise a defence that is conceding goals at a rate of almost two per game.

In all, the Hammers made nine signings last summer at a cost of around £130m as they looked to back Lopetegui at the start of the post-David Moyes era. Potter, though, believes more funds will be available if the right opportunity arises.

“I would think so,” he confirmed. “But again, there's a lot of ‘ifs’ there. If the right opportunity comes up, the right person, the right player, at the right price, there's lots of ‘ifs’.

“So, the most important thing is what I can control, which is the players that are there training later on today and then the game tomorrow [against Aston Villa].”