Overview

• West Ham’s poor run under Graham Potter has continued into the new season, with half of 20 games lost since January and a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend.
• Potter insisted he has “no doubt” about his ability or his players, urging focus on performance rather than outside criticism.
• Warning there is no £200m “silver bullet,” he pointed to financial limits shaped by recent spending and the sale of Mohammed Kudus for about £55m.
• He wants another defender and a central midfielder and is seeking to make Jean-Clair Todibo’s move permanent after adding Mads Hermansen, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson.
• Potter has brought in sports psychologist James Bell and brushed off public backing from vice-chair Karren Brady, with Friday’s Chelsea visit framed as a significant early test.