‘West Ham dealt Tyler Morton blow as transfer race explodes’
West Ham are facing increased competition for one of their top summer transfer targets as Graham Potter attempts to rebuild his squad.
The Hammers were dealt a blow with the departure of Mohammed Kudus to fierce rivals Tottenham following a 14th placed finish in the Premier League table last season.
Potter joined the club in January after the unsuccessful reign of former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui lasted only six months.
The club have moved to sign three new players so far in the window including defender Kyle Walker-Peters on a free transfer from Southampton.
Hammers could lose out on Liverpool stars
West Ham were eyeing up an ambitious deal for Liverpool duo Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton, however the Hammers will now need to fend off competition from Ligue 1 side Lyon for the latter.
That is according to The Athletic [July 30] who state the midfielder is open to joining Lyon as it “would offer him a chance to progress in his career.”
Lyon have faced financial difficulties this summer and were relegated to Ligue 2 before being granted a reprieve following an appeal.
A deal for Elliott also looks tricky given the amount of competition West Ham will have to face to sign the 22-year-old.
Potter facing transfer issues
Football Insider Verdict
Potter is enduring a tough first transfer window at West Ham with the club struggling to sign their top targets.
Elliott and Morton would have been players who could have bought energy and dynamism into the midfield area.
Morton didn’t make a Premier League appearance for Liverpool last season, but he faces fierce competition for places at Anfield and has previously been loaned out to Blackburn Rovers and Hull City in the Championship.
| Apperances | 79 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 7 |
West Ham’s transfer strategy has been questioned and the Hammers are in a race with multiple clubs for Metz striker Idrissa Gueye.
Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola looks set to be replaced as number one, and following his blunder against Manchester United in pre-season, Potter is lining up Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen.
Multiple positions need addressing ahead of the new season, which will kick-off for the Hammers away at Sunderland.
Despite the Black Cats being a newly promoted side the Stadium of Light will be electric on the opening day and defeat threatens to plague West Ham with further negativity, which Potter needs to avoid.