Ex West Ham boss Graham Potter could swap Bowen and Fullkrug for £189m striker duo in new job

Former West Ham manager Graham Potter appears to be eyeing a whiplash return to the dugout as part of the Sweden international set up following the sacking of Jon Dahl Tomasson on Tuesday.

Potter was sacked by the Hammers in September after an underwhelming start to the 2025/26 Premier League season and a stuttering second half of the previous campaign. He has since been replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo.

The 50-year-old has history of managing in Sweden, making his name in the career with Ostersund between January 2011 and June 2018 before moving to Swansea City. He took the club from the fourth tier of Swedish football to the top flight for the first time in the outfit’s history, winning the Svenska Cuppen and qualifying for the Europa League.

Sweden sack Tomasson after Kosovo defeat

Sweden are in the market for a new manager having sacked Tomasson following a 1-0 defeat to Kosovo in World Cup qualifying. Sweden were also beat 2-0 by Switzerland last week and sit bottom of their qualifying group with one point from four games.

Swedish Football Association chairman Simon Astrom said: “The decision taken by the Swedish Football Association is based on the fact that the men’s national team has not delivered the results we hoped for. There is still a chance for a playoff in March and our responsibility is to ensure that we have the best possible conditions to be able to reach a World Cup final. In this regard, we believe that new leadership is required.”

The nation could still qualify for the World Cup next year but must win their final two games against Switzerland and Slovenia. Potter appears to have put himself in the shop window for the job. He told Swedish publication Fotbollskanalen: “I’m actually in Sweden right now, in my house in Sweden. I’m between jobs and just left the Premier League. I’m open to anything, really, where I feel I can help. The job as manager of the Swedish national team is fantastic.

Graham Potter eyes up Sweden job

“I have feelings for Sweden. I love the country and I love Swedish football. I have a lot to be grateful for towards Swedish football. So yes, it would be a fantastic opportunity for me, obviously.

“I’m only 50 years old and I still have a lot to offer. It’s not about me finding a job at a specific level, but about finding something where I feel I can help and where I can make a difference. I also want to feel that we are on the same page. Those are my criteria.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have the career I’ve had. It’s meant that I’m in a very good position financially. It’s reached the level where I don’t have to consider finances as a reason to take a job or not.”

Ex Hammers boss would be in charge of £189m strike force

Should Potter get the job, he would be in charge of getting the best out of expensive Swedish strike force Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak. The two bagsmen racked up a combined total of £189 million worth of transfer fees this summer.

Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon for £64 million with Liverpool paying Newcastle United a British record £125 million for the services of Isak. Both strikers are yet to really impress in the Premier League this season and failed to score over the international break, despite scoring in both games.

It would be quite the change from the strikers at Potter’s disposal at West Ham. The manager struggled with £27 million man Niclas Fullkrug battling injuries and January loanee Evan Ferguson never hitting the back of the net on his temporary move from Brighton.

West Ham snapped up Callum Wilson on a free transfer this summer but Jarrod Bowen remains the most prolific forward, despite his preference to play on the flank.

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