How Graham Potter’s potential sacking will impact West Ham’s January transfer plans
West Ham will consider the financial impact on their January transfer plans before sacking Graham Potter.
That is according to football finance expert Dan Plumley, who told Football Insider exclusively that the Hammers’ history as an established Premier League club will do little to help them in their current predicament.
The Irons currently sit 19th in the table with one win and four losses from their opening five games of the season.
Potter took charge at West Ham in January 2025, but since then, Ruben Amorim is the only manager with a worse win rate than the former Chelsea boss.
The 50-year-old still has two years remaining on his contract at the London Stadium and a sizeable compensation package would be required to relieve him of his services.
West Ham can afford to sack Graham Potter and spend in January
However, whilst sacking Potter would not be cheap for West Ham, Plumley told Football Insider exclusively that the club can get rid of the former Brighton boss and still afford new signings in January.
Without the constraints of European football, and therefore UEFA’s financial restrictions, the Hammers only have to worry about the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), something that is not an issue currently.
Plumley explained: “They might need to if this carries on, because you don’t want to get dragged into a relegation battle, even though we’re talking about West Ham who have been an established Premier League club.
“There’s a lot of clubs that are very scared of having a really bad season and dropping into the Championship, so that’s what they’ll be guarding against.
“Financially, they could conceivably sack the manager and spend in January.”
Potter still has ‘significant support’ from West Ham squad
Whilst the walls seem to be closing in for the man in charge at the London Stadium, Potter retains “significant support” from West Ham’s players.
The ex-Chelsea manager took over from Julen Lopetegui and the Spaniard was not the most popular figure, falling out with Jean-Clair Todibo during his brief stint in charge.
However, if results continue as they have been and the club slide further into a relegation battle, the vote of confidence Potter currently holds seems likely to dissipate.