Exclusive: Graham Potter makes West Ham transfer demand after sack latest

Graham Potter wants to be backed heavily in the transfer market this summer after his disappointing start to life at West Ham, sources have told Football Insider.

The 49-year-old has taken the Irons backwards since succeeding Julen Lopetegui in January – with the club now sitting 17th in the Premier League table.

Potter has won just three of his 13 games in charge at the London Stadium, but sources say he is fully expected to lead West Ham into the 2025-26 campaign.

The ex-Chelsea boss, who signed a contract with the Irons running until June 2027, will get time to turn results around in the new campaign before his future is questioned.

Potter demands transfer backing at West Ham

He has masterminded some decent results since arriving at West Ham – including away wins at Arsenal and Fulham, as well as a draw away at Aston Villa.

Potter arrived at the London Stadium on 9 January but was only backed with the loan signing of Evan Ferguson – who has played just 137 minutes of action for the Irons.

He has been crucial in the development of young left-back Oliver Scarles since arriving – with the 19-year-old now a regular West Ham starter and part of England’s Under-20 squad.

But the Irons slipped to 17th on Sunday (13 April) after a narrow 2-1 away loss at Liverpool and are staring down the barrel of a potential worst Premier League finish since relegation in the 2010-11 campaign.

West Ham set for squad overhaul

Football Insider revealed on 6 April that West Ham are planning a squad overhaul in the summer, with ten senior stars potentially leaving the club.

Guido Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug, Emerson Palmieri, Maxwel Cornet and Michail Antonio are all seen as surplus to requirements at the London Stadium.

Danny Ings, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell and Lukasz Fabianski are likely to depart upon the expiry of their contracts, while Carlos Soler will return to PSG.

Exclusive: Stuart Attwell slammed over second Brighton penalty vs Leicester

Keith Hackett has criticised VAR Stuart Attwell following the draw between Brighton and Leicester City in the Premier League.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Attwell should not have intervened to award a second penalty to Fabian Hurzeler’s side in that game.

Leicester ended their long wait for a goal and point with a 2-2 draw against Brighton at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday (12 April).

However, it seemingly could have been even better for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side had certain decisions gone in the way.

Leicester City face penalty frustration at The AMEX

With the score still at 0-0, Leicester were denied a penalty when Pervis Estupinan brought down Kasey McAteer inside the Brighton area.

Shortly after, Attwell intervened to award a penalty to Brighton after a handball by Leicester defender Conor Coady inside his own box.

That was converted by Joao Pedro to open the scoring, although Stephy Mavididi equalised for the visitors before half time.

The Seagulls though would go back in front ten minutes after the break, when Pedro scored his second penalty of the game.

Again, this one came after an intervention from Attwell on VAR to award a spot kick after Brighton midfielder Matt O’Riley went to ground following a tussle in the area with Luke Thomas.

Hackett though, believes there was no need for the video official to get involved to give that penalty against Leicester.

Stuart Attwell hammered over Brighton penalty

After being asked by Football Insider what he made of Attwell’s decision to intervene on VAR over that incident, Hackett said:

“Oh dear. This really did not warrant intervention. Once again Stuart Attwell sat in the VAR room wants to get to involved. Football is a contact sport and this was just untidy. Not a penalty kick for me.”

Caleb Okoli would later equalise to earn a 2-2 draw for Leicester, although they remain 19th in the table, and will be relegated if they fail to beat league leaders Liverpool on Sunday (20 April).

Brighton meanwhile are ninth in the standings, having seen their hopes of claiming a European place dealt a blow after failing to pick up all three points here.