Borussia Dortmund 'contact' £32.3m West Ham star's agent over summer transfer

German giants Borussia Dortmund are said to have contacted the agents of a West Ham player in a bid to get ahead of a summer transfer. The Hammers are set to make significant changes to their squad this summer as Graham potter looks to shape his squad to his desires having taken over a group moulded to Julen Lopetegui’s desires.

It has been a frustrating start for Potter, and he hasn’t actually done any better than what Lopetegui managed in the same amount of time, at least not in terms of results, but there is an understanding that the Englishman is going to need time to get his ideas across and get the players he wants in over the summer.

The Hammers did sign Evan Ferguson on loan in January, but with relegation not a real threat and with a top-half finish equally as unrealistic, they decided to count their pennies and be conservative until the summer window, which is a much easier and cheaper window to operate in.

West Ham’s struggles have continued for now, though, although they did look a little better during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, finally finding their scoring touch. Plenty has been made of West Ham’s possible signings this summer, with many players linked, but we are also likely to see several exits in order to make space for those incomings.

Edson Alvarez is one player who is now being linked with an exit, with the Mirror suggesting Borussia Dortmund have been in touch with the player’s representatives over a possible deal this summer. It follows claims that there is interest aplenty from France and Germany in the midfielder.

The 27-year-old arrived from Ajax in 2023 on a deal worth around £32.3million, and he has been used semi-regularly, making 25 league appearances this season and starting 19 of those games. But Potter doesn’t seem to fully trust the midfielder, and he could be seen as an asset that could bring in significant cash towards new signings, keeping in mind that West Ham need to be careful with their spending amid the presence of Profit and Sustainability rules.

Potter on West Ham struggles

Potter said he understands the frustration oft he fans after Saturday’s draw with Bournemouth. He said: “I understand where the crowd are at because we haven't done well enough at home. We haven't won enough and played well enough, so you can understand there's a frustration there.

“This is normal and we accept that and we have to take that responsibility. But I think if they can see something, the crowd get behind us and then, like I said, it's a fantastic atmosphere and really pushes the team.”

On the Bournemouth game itself, he said: “I thought the start of the game, we were OK without being brilliant against a tough opponent that you're always on a bit of an edge against because they've got such physicality and speed on the transition. We weren't brilliant first half and I think the second half of the first half tailed away from us too much. They were probably better than us there and then obviously to concede, you're filled with a disappointed feeling.

“And then second half, after the substitutions, we scored and then it was a fully committed, fully focused performance. I was delighted for Füllkrug because I think he had a real impact. You can see what he brings to the team. And obviously I was happy for Jarrod as well to score, and at 2-1 you hope that you're going to stay there, but a soft free-kick, I think it was, and then we haven't defended the action very well and then it's a point, like I said. I think it's a hard-earned point that's probably fair over the course of the game.”

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