West Ham's dream XI for next season if the rumours are true - including Southampton and Lille signings

West Ham appointed Graham Potter as their manager earlier this winter after parting ways with Julen Lopetegui. He has made a positive impression so far at the London Stadium.

The Englishman has worked in the past at Swansea City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea in the past. He took a bit of a break from the game after his dismissal by the latter before taking his most recent job.

The Hammers ended up having a quiet January window in the end. They have the chance to bolster their ranks properly in the summer.

West Ham defensive department

Alphonse Areola has made the number one spot his own this season at West Ham. The France international has been on the books of his current club since joining them in 2021 on an initial loan deal that was later made permanent and he has since made 90 appearances in all competitions, 16 of which have come in this campaign.

At wing-back, Aaron Wan-Bissaka made the switch to the Hammers last summer from Manchester United and the former Crystal Palace man likes to get up and down the flank. On the other side, Oliver Scarles has a bright future ahead of him in the game and will only get better over the next couple of years.

West Ham have been linked with a move for Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis. He would boost their defensive department and has stood out in a poor Saints team over recent times and could be a shrewd addition if they got him.

Potter is also believed to be a fan of Genoa ace Koni De Winter. The 22-year-old, who has played for Juventus in the past, moved to Stadio Luigi Ferraris in 2023 and has since become a key player and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him move on soon.

West Ham midfield and attack

Lucas Paqueta moved to West Ham back in 2022 and injects quality into their starting XI. The ex-AC Milan and Ajax star has played 110 matches for them to date and has found the net on 18 occasions, five of which have come this term.

Edson Alvarez was snapped up by former manager David Moyes after Declan Rice was sold to Arsenal. He has since boosted their midfield department and has made 67 outings, chipping in with two goals.

Jarrod Bowen causes problems to any side he comes up against and is always capable of getting a goal. The attacker was snapped up from Hull City back in 2020 and he hasn’t looked back since. Meanwhile, Mohamed Kudus has also caught the eye over recent times and is a dangerous weapon.

West Ham are said to be keen on a swoop for Jonathan David from Lille. He would give Potter another option to pick from going forward and has proved he can score goals in France. The Hammers are also said to be interested in landing Emanuel Emegba from Strasbourg. The 23-year-old has scored 11 goals in 21 matches this season in Ligue 1.