Hammers News

They say never change a winning team but Graham Potter is going to be forced to when West Ham take on bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium.

West Ham are back in Premier League action after the international break and they don’t come much bigger than Spurs.

The Hammers have a vastly inferior record to Tottenham in the long history of this particular London derby with 67 wins to Spurs’ 102 while there have been 56 draws.

West Ham have not lost at home to Tottenham Hotspur in six years, though.

Graham Potter will be looking to maintain that record as the Irons aim to build some momentum off the back of the superb 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest last time out.

Potter admitted the international break came at a bad time for his side after that much-needed victory.

All eyes on Kudus and Potter’s West Ham team selection

Meanwhile Spurs face the Hammers off the back of losing 1-0 at home to Bournemouth in their last game.

A journalist has revealed what Mohammed Kudus privately thinks about facing West Ham with Spurs.

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Kudus is set to be the big sub-plot to what promises to be a feisty derby where bragging rights are everything.

Despite the encouraging result at Forest, West Ham fans were left furious with the club’s owners on deadline day when they failed to make any other additions besides defender Igor Julio on a straight loan from Brighton.

Talk heading into the last day of the window was that the Hammers were targeting a centre-back, another midfielder and a striker as well as a goalkeeper.

Spurs meanwhile brought in Dutch midfield star Xavi Simons in a £51m deal and PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan to finish off their summer business, which included the controversial signing of Kudus from West Ham.

West Ham’s excellent result and performance coupled with Tottenham’s defeat – in which they were booed by their fans – means this game promises to be more competitive than it would have been a few weeks ago.

Team selection and tactics will be absolutely pivotal.

Potter has been given a leg-up after a Tottenham coach was overhead revealing key tactics for the West Ham clash.

As the rivals count down to the 5.30pm kick-off at the London Stadium, all eyes turn to Potter’s starting XI.

The predicted West Ham team for Spurs sees Potter forced into two big changes.

West Ham looked defensively solid for the first time this season after switching to a back four when they won at the City Ground.

Potter forced into two big changes for Spurs?

But some Hammers fans are concerned Potter may be tempted to revert to three at the back and wingbacks for the visit of Tottenham.

Potter would undoubtedly like to adhere to the old saying ‘never change a winning team’ but has little choice after the events of the international break.

Striker Niclas Fullkrug picked up a new calf injury while away with Germany.

He returned early to east London without kicking a ball for Die Mannschaft.

Potter insists the injury is nothing too serious and Fullkrug has been seen in light training ahead of the Spurs game.

It seems highly unlikely the German will be risked this soon, though, given he spent six of the nine months of last season on the sidelines with calf problems.

Potter cast doubt on Fullkrug’s involvement vs Spurs in his pre-match press conference.

But he also stated it may be too soon for Callum Wilson to start given he is still playing catch-up from a lack of pre-season action after leaving Newcastle.

Who should replace Fullkrug is the biggest dilemma for Potter and one which will likely result in another big change to the team.

Given the manager’s comments it seems logical that captain Jarrod Bowen or in-form Lucas Paqueta will start up front in place of Fullkrug.

Paqueta actually played the false nine role excellently in the cup defeat at Wolves, scoring one of the four goals he already has to his name this season.

Bowen offers West Ham so much off the right we think the Brazilian magnifico will get the nod from Potter to start up top.

That would require someone to take Paqueta’s place in the middle.

Potter can then move the brilliant Mateus Fernandes inside – if he resists the temptation to play it safe and start Guido Rodriguez.

There is also the option of throwing Soungoutou Magassa straight in for his debut, but that seems unlikely.

Fullkrug out, Paqueta up top and big decision Summerville?

With Fernandes moving inside, West Ham will need to bring someone in to play out on the left.

That begs the big question whether Potter feels game-changing Crysencio Summerville is fit enough to start against Spurs.

The flying Dutchman was the key to West Ham’s win at Forest, playing a big hand in all three goals.

Summerville got the assist for Bowen, won the penalty for Paqueta to convert and then started the move on the break which saw Wilson head home.

Another surprise option could be Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

The full-back was dropped last time out with Kyle Walker-Peters playing well in his stead.

Wan-Bissaka can play left or right and could be deployed in front of El Hadji Malick Diouf to give West Ham extra security and pace against Kudus.

That would then allow Potter to bring Summerville on in the hope he can have the same devastating impact from the bench.

Given what is at stake – and providing the medical team are happy there is no increased risk from starting as opposed to coming on as sub – we hope Potter goes with Summerville from the start.

It gives Thomas Frank something to think about and will keep Spurs pinned back knowing West Ham have Summerville one side and Bowen the other.

Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Spurs:

Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Fernandes, Summerville, Bowen, Paqueta.

Official teams will be announced at 4.15pm.

It could be a day of numerous debuts when Graham Potter’s West Ham United host bitter Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s 5.30 kick-off.

While Potter weighs up handing Callum Wilson a first start in a claret and blue shirt, Soungoutou Magassa and Igor Julio may feature for West Ham after joining late in the summer window.

The visitors, meanwhile, should have Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani available.

Xavi, one of the finest young attackers on the continent, joined in a £51 million deal from RB Leipzig. France international Kolo Muani arrives on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, with Frank highlighting the flexibility of a forward who can play all across the attack.

But after Potter admitted that Niclas Fullkrug is a doubt for Saturday’s derby – West Ham United could be without their first-choice striker after the German picked up a calf injury – Frank confirms that Tottenham will make the 12 mile journey without their £65 million record signing, Dominic Solanke.

Thomas Frank rules Dominic Solanke out of Tottenham’s West Ham United clash

Solanke appeared in Tottenham’s first three matches of the new campaign before an ankle problem which ruled him out of the 1-0 defeat by AFC Bournemouth before the international break.

Richarlison is likely to start up top again, then, although the Brazilian has made an excellent start to the season.

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“Everyone is fine, everyone returned from international duties well so that’s always positive. Very happy about that,” Frank said, albeit Spurs are still without long-term absentees Radu Dragusin, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

“Dom will not be available still. I don’t expect it to be too long [before he returns] but he will not be available for this game.

“I think right now we are doing everything we can – the medical team – to get on top of it and that’s what we’re focusing on. I get a feeling he is not too far away, but he’s just fallen short for this week.

“Both [Xavi and Kolo Muani] are looking good,” the former Brentford boss adds while predicting Mohammed Kudus will face a ‘hostile’ reception on his return to West Ham.

“Both of them are definitely in contention to be ready for the squad. Xavi, for natural reasons, is further down the line. He just started the first game for Holland and played a few games for Leipzig.

“Definitely in terms of Randal, it’s been a while since he’s played. Last time was in the Club World Cup. Hasn’t trained really with PSG. So he is not as fit as Xavi, but he looks good.

“Xavi, I see him mainly as a ten or a left-sided player or left winger. Whereas Kolo, I can see him playing as striker and he can play both wings, I would say.”

Potter says Crysencio Summerville gives West Ham ‘another dimension’

Graham Potter can enjoy the luxury of his own selection dilemma, with Crysencio Summerville in contention for a first start since January.

The self-confident Summerville is determined to belatedly prove his worth at West Ham, while the head coach feels one of the few genuinely jet-heeled players in his squad can offer a different sort of ‘dimension’ in the final third.

“It’s great to have him. [Summerville] gives us another dimension,” Potter said during his press conference on Thursday. “It’s been a long road with setbacks, so credit to him. He’s shown that mental strength.

“Now, we just need to help him enjoy his football because, if we do that, he is a big help for us.”

A journalist has revealed what Mohammed Kudus told her privately about what it means to him to be facing his former club West Ham with Tottenham Hotspur.

Mohammed Kudus is set to run the gauntlet when he takes on West Ham for the first time since his move to bitter Premier League rivals Spurs.

The Ghanaian will be thanking his lucky stars he is not returning to West Ham while they were still at Upton Park rather than the infinitely less intimidating London Stadium.

The Boleyn under the lights would have swallowed a player like Kudus whole.

Especially if they left to join Tottenham and went on to unashamedly profess their love for the north Londoners in the process.

There is a reason players do not move between West Ham and Spurs.

Kudus has infuriated West Ham fans with his Spurs goading

Not a single player had been traded between the rivals since January 2011 prior to Kudus joining Tottenham from West Ham for £54.5m in the summer.

West Ham’s board must take much of the blame for leaving the club in a position where they had to sell a top player to a club their supporters dislike more than any other besides Millwall.

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It is well publicised that Kudus wanted to join Liverpool, then Chelsea as it had long been clear he would be leaving a Hammers side pleading PSR poverty.

In the end only Spurs would cough up the money to make West Ham blink – and better still paid in three instalments rather than over the length of Kudus’ contract as is normal in most transfers.

But West Ham fans will not forget how Kudus has handled the move to north London.

Kudus has been branded ‘Judus’ – intentionally misspelt for the play on words – in light of his comments following the transfer.

An inflammatory unveiling saw Kudus declare he ‘only wanted Spurs’ when leaving the Hammers.

Kudus was also seen telling Tottenham’s doctor he would ‘find Spurs in there’ as he examined his heart during medical tests.

Hammers insiders previously claimed Kudus was persistently late to training during pre-season in order to force the move to Tottenham. Although that has been denied by the player’s camp ahead of his return to the London Stadium.

What Kudus told journalist about facing West Ham with Spurs

It is a ground Kudus lit up during his debut season and where he came up with his trademark celebration whereby he sits on the advertising hoardings or a stool.

The highlight was his Maradona-esque goal of the tournament in a Europa League win over Freiburg.

Now the Hammers will be hoping he hits a low point on his return to the stadium.

The old saying lower than a snake’s belly seems to be particularly apt given that is what West Ham fans have labelled Kudus.

But how does he feel about the return to the club which brought him to the Premier League stage?

A journalist has revealed what Kudus told her privately about facing West Ham with Spurs.

The Ghanaian forward’s candid admission offers an insight into what he really thinks about the Hammers.

And the answer appears to be very little judging by the conversation.

Speaking to Tottenham boss Thomas Frank in his pre-West Ham press conference, Vaishali Bhardwaj lifted the lid on her exchange with Kudus ahead of the game.

Kudus makes it clear West Ham are insignificant to him

“I asked him before the international break about this game,” Bhardwaj said.

“And he said ‘Look it’s just another game for me’.”

It seems West Ham are already so utterly insignificant to Kudus they are just any other game to the ex Ajax star.

If Kudus wasn’t assured of a white-hot reception before, he certainly is now.

Frank conceded Kudus is ‘probably aware of the extra noise’ around his return to West Ham and quipped ‘You don’t think they’ll applaud him?”

It’s fair to say Thomas Frank is not expecting Mohammed Kudus to be greeted with a particularly warm reception when Tottenham Hotspur’s £54.5 million summer signing makes his return to West Ham United.

Then again, a footballer who became the first to swap the Hammers for Spurs since Scott Parker in 2011 is clearly not afraid of upsetting the applecart.

A ‘hostile’ response, to quote Frank, is what Mohammed Kudus would have been expecting when the former West Ham United favourite pushed through a highly-controversial switch 12 miles north back in July.

While Graham Potter played down the noise surrounding Kudus’ return to the London Stadium during his pre-match press conference on Thursday – preferring to focus on the players still at his disposal – Frank is backing the Ghana international to let his football do the talking.

Thomas Frank talks ‘hostile’ West Ham United reception as Mohammed Kudus return looms

Kudus spent two rather mixed years in claret and blue, joining from Ajax during the summer of 2023 before scoring 19 goals in 80 games under David Moyes, Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter.

Kudus became an immediate fan favourite at Tottenham on the back of a few sparkling early displays. Though, as the Hammers faithful know only too well, getting off to a great start is the easy bit.

Maintaining it is the biggest challenge. And that is where Kudus fell short in the east of the capital.

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“You don’t think they will applaud him? Maybe not,” Frank accepts when asked what sort of reception his number 20 can expect back at his old stomping ground.

“I’m pretty sure players and myself hear the extra noise but then, at a certain stage, you get into your zone and you don’t really hear it.

“I’m sure it will be the same for Kudus, the same for all players playing in a hostile environment. The thing he should do is focus on his game. That is what he can control.”

Graham Potter ignores Kudus question and praises Jarrod Bowen

Frank was heard telling Kudus to ‘create’ and ‘do whatever you want’ on the training pitch this week.

So, while the two-time Eredivisie champion has played solely on the right-hand side since joining Spurs, West Ham can expect to see him popping up in a variety of attacking positions while alternating with the likes of Brennan Johnson, Richarlison, Xavi Simons, or whoever the Tottenham boss opts to start in attack.

Lining up on the right-hand side for the Hammers, meanwhile, will be Jarrod Bowen.

Potter spoke glowingly about West Ham’s inspirational captain in his pre-match analysis, Bowen getting off the mark with a wonderful strike in the 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last time out.

“I think the goals speak for themselves. He’s a goal threat, that’s what Jarrod is,” Potter enthused. “His finish against Forest was very, very high level. It’s incredible the way he takes it so early. His movement to hit the ball… he’s a killer around the box.

“He’s been a fantastic captain for us. A great leader. He speaks really well to the players [and] in small groups.

“He has been a joy to work with, to be honest, and everybody knows how important he is for us. Those goals and assists… There is not too much to say, it’s a great record.”

West Ham take on bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium on Saturday and Graham Potter has been given a helping hand to prepare for one of their biggest threats.

All the headlines for the Premier League clash between the Hammers and Spurs will centre around Mohammed Kudus and the two directors’ boxes.

Kudus returns to West Ham after his controversial – and prior to the summer unthinkable – £54.5m move to Tottenham.

The Ghanaian has agitated Hammers fans with his comments and revelations about his actions since leaving for West Ham’s biggest rivals behind Millwall.

West Ham boss Graham Potter refused to take the Kudus bait ahead of Spurs or mention the attacker by name or offer any pleasantries about the former Hammer.

Kudus and owners in spotlight for West Ham vs Spurs but don’t forget new stars

Eyes – and cameras – will also be trained on the directors’ boxes at the London Stadium with majority owner David Sullivan under fire from fans, who are planning a series of protests.

Meanwhile the family of Tottenham Hotspur owner Joe Lewis are expected to make a rare appearance following the departure of Daniel Levy.

Potter will want his team to focus on matters on the pitch, though, as he looks to maintain momentum from the brilliant 3-0 victory at Forest last time out.

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Spurs come to east London off the back of being booed by their own fans in a 1-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.

West Ham looked a completely different animal with new signing Mateus Fernandes in the side at Forest.

But Tottenham have a number of new arrivals who could make their debuts against West Ham too.

Before the window closed, West Ham signed defender Igor Julio on loan from Brighton.

Igor is best known by Hammers fans as being the man Jarrod Bowen left for dead to win them the club’s first trophy in 43 years back in 2023.

Hammers fans were disappointed with the club’s lack of business on deadline day.

But the muscle-bound Brazilian has all the makings of a West Ham fan favourite and has been implored to get stuck into a certain Mr Kudus if he gets on at any stage.

Spurs coach spills beans on new star’s role against West Ham

Tottenham have signed some quality players, though, with Dutch playmaker Xavi Simons joining in a £51m move and French striker Randal Kolo Muani on a season-long loan from PSG.

Potter told the press he knows what the Tottenham game means to West Ham fans.

Big bragging rights are at stake and these London derbies can often be decided by fine margins.

So every little detail counts.

And Potter may have been given a leg up on Thomas Frank’s tactics for the match – thanks to a video emerging out of the Tottenham camp.

A Spurs coach has been overheard revealing details about a new star’s role against West Ham.

It gives more than a glimpse into Tottenham’s potential game plan.

Make no mistake, Tottenham new boy Simons is a classy player and will be one – if not the one – to watch if Potter’s side want to win the game.

Simons is also extremely versatile, capable of playing on both wings, as an attacking midfielder or number 10 and even a second striker.

But a video taken of Spurs training may have let the cat out of the bag on Frank’s gameplan for West Ham.

Video footage, which you can watch below, shows Tottenham coach Matt Wells running a very specific drill which shows Simons being deployed centrally as the main playmaker.

The video shows Simons dropping deeper to pick the ball up, before turning and driving to conduct attacks.

Potter gets big leg-up on Tottenham’s tactics and plan for Simons

Frank is also giving Simons freedom to essentially play a floating role against West Ham with Wells being heard telling the Dutchman: “Go create, do whatever you want” as he receives the ball and turns.

This is absolute gold dust for Potter and West Ham’s management.

If this is how Frank is going to deploy Simons, the Hammers can be prepared.

Potter will want one of his midfielders, or possibly a forward dropping in depending on how deep Simons does come to collect the ball, to get tight on the 22-year-old so that he cannot turn and orchestrate attacks.

Tottenham have dangerous wingers and for everything said about Kudus, West Ham know how dangerous his pace and dribbling can be when he is on his game.

So the last thing the Irons want is for Simons being allowed to turn and dictate play, picking out those wingers.

It remains to be seen whether Potter sticks with the back four which did so well at Forest.

Many Hammers fans fear he may revert to his preferred five with wingbacks.

That would allow the extra midfielder to be all over Simons like a rash. But if they get it wrong and the ex RB Leipzig star is able to turn then West Ham’s wingbacks could be in trouble.

It promises to be one of the keys to who will come out on top in this game.

Potter can at least prepare the team accordingly now thanks to this nugget from behind enemy lines.

While the looming presence of Mohammed Kudus threatens to overshadow much of the pre-match build up when West Ham United host Tottenham Hotspur this Premier League weekend, Graham Potter is only interested in talking up his own matchwinners.

Potter would not be drawn, during his Thursday press conference, about the potential flashpoint that is Mohammed Kudus’ imminent return to the London Stadium.

The Tottenham faithful were quick to rub Hammers’ noses in it when the Ghana international became the first player since Scott Parker in 2014 to swap East London for N17.

Just to add insult to injury, Kudus made a flying start to life at Spurs while West Ham United endured mathematically the worst start in Premier League history. No points and eight goals conceded from their first two matchdays.

But what a difference one weekend can make.

Kudus was a helpless bystander as AFC Bournemouth brutally exposed the ghosts in the Thomas Frank machine last time out. Just 24 hours later, Jarrod Bowen set West Ham on their way to a belated first win of 2025/26 with a gorgeous first-time strike away at Nottingham Forest.

Graham Potter applauds ‘incredible’ Jarrod Bowen before West Ham United vs Tottenham Hotspur

Bowen’s City Ground dagger was nothing short of ‘world-class’, to quote former Hammers defender Matthew Upson.

Alan Shearer called it an ‘incredible’ finish. And it’s fair to say the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer knows a thing or two about sticking the ball in the back of the net.

Shearer’s description was the same one used by Potter, meanwhile, as Bowen further strengthened his argument to be named the Premier League’s standout performer outside of the so-called ‘big six’.

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“I think the goals speak for themselves. He’s a goal threat, that’s what Jarrod is,” Potter enthused. “His finish against Forest was very, very high level. It’s incredible the way he takes it so early.

“His movement to hit the ball… he’s a killer around the box.”

While a talismanic presence on the pitch and a natural-born leader off it, former club-record signing Matt Jarvis believes Jarrod Bowen has benefited immensely from his experience leading the line under David Moyes and occasionally under Potter.

More ruthless, more devastatingly efficient than ever before.

“He’s been a fantastic captain for us,” Potter adds. “A great leader. He speaks really well to the players [and] in small groups.

“He has been a joy to work with, to be honest, and everybody knows how important he is for us. Those goals and assists… There is not too much to say, it’s a great record.”

Potter welcomes back Malick Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka but Niclas Fullkrug a doubt

It is no secret that departing chairman Daniel Levy would have loved to take Bowen to Tottenham. Now, instead, the prospect of Kudus and Bowen going head-to-head down the respective right-hand flanks should make for very interesting viewing.

Niclas Fullkrug is West Ham’s only injury doubt heading into the weekend, meanwhile. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf have returned unscathed after facing off during Senegal’s 3-2 victory over DR Congo, while Potter has indicated that Callum Wilson could start up top in Fullkrug’s place.

“Malick will be slightly happier than Aaron in terms of how their games went!” Potter smiles. “We are positive and it’s good to see everybody.

“[Wilson] has been great, as we expected. A fantastic professional, a great person to have around the club and training ground.

“We are still building him up. He hasn’t had a pre-season but his impact against Forest was fantastic. We are delighted with Callum, where he is at but also where he’s been, and how we can carry on helping him to have his minutes, make his impact, and contribute to the team.

“[Whether he can start against Spurs] is something we have to take a decision on. He has not been with us that long. It’s always in the back of your mind, we have to do the right thing for him and the team.

“But he’s the type of professional where, whether he starts or finishes [a game], he can have a great impact with us.”

Graham Potter has stood firm ahead of West Ham’s clash with Spurs, refusing to take the bait when pressed about Mohammed Kudus.

And it comes as fresh revelations prove the West Ham boss was right to offload the Ghanaian, even if it was to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

West Ham take on fierce rivals Tottenham at the London Stadium this Saturday night with the big storyline being the return of Mohammed Kudus.

Hammers fans have dubbed Kudus ‘Judus’ since he left for Spurs in a £54.5m move in the summer.

There are several strands to the Kudus debate.

It is churlish to suggest Kudus is not a talented player. West Ham fans know he can play and he showed that in his debut season with 20 goals and assists including some barnstorming strikes.

An elite level dribbler, many at West Ham believe he has been found out a little bit and question his end product.

Kudus adds more spice to fierce West Ham and Spurs rivalry

In an ideal world, where West Ham were ambitious and in rude financial health, they would be keeping a player of Kudus’ talents and looking to build around him and other key stars.

But the Hammers board insisted Graham Potter must sell players in order to be able to buy.

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So the fact West Ham fans have to suffer the ignominy of seeing a quality player leave for Tottenham is on the board, not the manager.

As one of West Ham’s only high-value assets in the summer, Kudus was always in line to be sold and Potter elected that being able to use the money from offloading the Black Stars ace in order to sign his own players would be more beneficial than keeping the former Ajax attacker.

Fans of Spurs and West Ham have exchanged the usual jibes since.

Tottenham supporters have been thanking West Ham for selling them Kudus, claiming he is a bargain.

Hammers fans on the other hand have warned Spurs they are getting a head-down merchant with no end product and a poor attitude.

Irons fans also noted Kudus’ efforts to track and tackle back fell off a cliff after his initial enthusiasm in his debut campaign.

The truth, as Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle has suggested himself, is probably somewhere in-between.

One thing that’s for certain is Kudus will get a white hot reception at the London Stadium following his comments in the wake of West Ham’s controversial sale to Spurs.

Potter refuses to take the Kudus bait ahead of Spurs

An inflammatory unveiling saw Kudus declare he ‘only wanted Spurs’.

The first player to be traded between the two clubs since 2011, Kudus was also heard telling Tottenham’s doctor he would ‘find Spurs in there’ as he examined his heart during a medical.

Claims Kudus was persistently late to training during pre-season in order to force the move to Tottenham have also enraged Hammers supporters.

As he makes an early season return to his old stomping ground, it was obvious West Ham’s manager was going to be asked about Kudus.

But Potter refused to take the Kudus bait ahead of Spurs as revelations prove West Ham were right.

In his pre-Tottenham press conference, Potter was asked whether there is extra motivation for West Ham to win to get one over on Kudus.

Potter did not bite. But notably, he did not mention Kudus by name or offer any praise or pleasantries for his former player – something most managers usually do in these circumstances, even if they don’t mean it.

“No, I think the motivation is there for us, it’s for us to play against Spurs,” Potter said.

“We know how important it is for the fans, we know how important it is for the club.

“Three points for us is huge so we want to do that for us and for the team and the club and we can’t control anything from anybody else. We just want to play well and win.”

Kudus and Bowen revelations prove West Ham right

As Kudus makes his return, there have been two telling revelations which prove West Ham made the right call selling him to Spurs.

Explaining their decision to offload Kudus in the summer, West Ham’s board stated his best position is off the right, where they already have a superior player in Jarrod Bowen.

Kudus is known to look up to West Ham’s number 20 Bowen and rate him very highly, saying: ‘Jaz is the GOAT’ in one interview during his time in east London.

Some have suggested Kudus even chose his number 20 shirt at Tottenham for that reason.

Now the world’s leading football data experts have revealed staggering statistics about Kudus and Bowen which prove West Ham’s board right.

They also show Hammers fans are accurate in their warning to Spurs that Kudus’ end product is poor.

“Mohammed Kudus has more incomplete dribbles (110) than any other player since the start of the last Premier League season,” WhoScored have announced.

Meanwhile, WhoScored have revealed the list of Premier League forwards who have won possession for their team the most in the final third since the start of last season.

Unsurprisingly, Kudus is nowhere to be seen – but Hammers captain Bowen certainly is.

Frustratingly for Tottenham, two players they missed out on before opting to sign Kudus, are the only players above Bowen in that particular list in the shape of Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbuemo.

Bowen has won the ball back 32 times for West Ham in the final third since the start of last season.

Semenyo topped the chart with 42 while Mbuemo had 35, Amad Diallo 30 and Mo Salah 27.

Versatility is clearly something Graham Potter – whose West Ham United side host bitter Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening – were looking for in the transfer window when signing Igor Julio and co.

As Vasco Seabra, his former coach at Portuguese outfit Estoril, explained, Mateus Fernandes is capable of thriving across a variety of midfield roles.

The £40 million signing from Southampton made his West Ham United bow on the left-hand side of a re-jigged 4-2-3-1 formation last time out at Nottingham Forest. Graham Potter expects Fernandes to form a fine understanding with El Hadji Malick Diouf, given time.

Speaking of Diouf, while the Senegalese flyer began life with the Hammers as a wing-back, his best performance so far came as a traditional left-back in a four-man defence during that 3-0 City Ground trouncing.

Fellow full-back Kyle Walker-Peters is equally comfortable on either flank. And while £14 million Frenchman Soungoutou Magassa prefers to play as a ‘number six’, he has also spent time as a centre-half in his young career.

Now, during his pre-Spurs press conference on Thursday lunchtime, Potter indicated that the deadline day signing of Igor Julio was also made with his ability to cover multiple positions in mind.

Graham Potter shares West Ham United’s plan for Brighton loanee Igor Julio

In the final few hours of the window, West Ham inadvertently wrecked Liverpool’s Marc Guehi hopes.

Igor Julio was supposed to join Crystal Palace as Guehi’s replacement but instead ended up a few miles east at the London Stadium.

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The Brighton loanee brings ‘a lot of quality’ in possession to Potter’s team with his trusty left-foot and his positive, line-breaking passes. And while Igor Julio made the majority of his 50 Brighton appearances at centre-half, Potter is confident that the Brazilian can also provide cover for Malick Diouf at left-back.

“As you can imagine with the window, you have to be on your toes,” Potter explains, West Ham jumping at the chance to nab Igor on deadline day after selling Nayef Aguerd to Marseille.

“The opportunity for Nayef to leave was good for him and us. A possibility opened up for Igor. He’s trained really well, fitted into the group really well. He is a positive character, so we are happy [with the signing].

“We’ve got good competition there now. Igor can cover centre-back and full-back. I’m happy with that position, happy that the window has finished and we are where we are.”

While Graham Potter suggested that Callum Wilson could make his full West Ham debut in place of injury-doubt Niclas Fullkrug, both Igor and Magassa are likely to be in the matchday squad for the first time, if not the starting XI.

And though it may feel like a risk throwing in a new centre-half up against Tottenham’s dangerous frontline, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler highlighted Igor Julio’s ‘special’ ability to step in at short notice and settle into the flow of things right from the off.

This week, a spokesman for the board told Hammers News that Igor could stay at the London Stadium full-time should he impress during his temporary stay.

Potter explains Lukasz Fabianski return as Hammers prepare for Tottenham Hotspur clash

The more familiar face of Lukasz Fabianski may also be part of Potter’s party this weekend.

Potter welcomed veteran goalkeeper Fabianski back some 24 hours ago. The 40-year-old signs a short-term deal until the end of the season, and will provide experienced back-up and mentorship for new number one Mads Hermansen.

Fabianski’s return came about after Wes Foderingham moved to Cyprus with Aris Limassol.

“When the opportunity for Wes came up, it was the right thing for him and us from a footballing perspective,” Potter reveals. “Then, you look at someone who can support the goalkeepers, and when we know Lukasz like we do, he was an obvious choice for us.

“He brings a lot of character and personality. He’s an incredible professional, so we are really pleased.”

West Ham face bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium as Premier League action resumes after the international break.

The Hammers welcome Spurs to east London for a clash with no shortage of sub-plots, Mohammed Kudus’ return chief among them.

Graham Potter is looking to keep the momentum from West Ham’s superb 3-0 win away at Forest last time out while Tottenham are looking to bounce back from a 1-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.

Kudus is in for a white hot reception following his comments in the wake of West Ham’s controversial sale to Spurs.

Kudus declared he ‘only wanted Spurs’ when he was unveiled as the first player to be transferred between the two clubs since January 2011.

Ghana star Kudus was also caught on camera telling Tottenham’s club doctor he would ‘find Spurs in there’ as he examined his heart during a medical.

Kudus is one of many sub-plots to West Ham vs Spurs clash

Those comments did not go down well with fans alongside claims Kudus was persistently late to training during pre-season in order to underline his desire to join Tottenham.

As well as the Kudus factor, all eyes will be on both directors’ boxes too.

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Spurs will reportedly start the club’s post-Daniel Levy era with a ‘public show of power’ from members of the family of club owner Joe Lewis as they make a rare appearance for the clash with West Ham.

The game is live on Sky Sports and cameras will undoubtedly be trained on both owners’ boxes given recent events.

West Ham fans are planning protests against the club’s owners.

There has been a major development ahead of the Spurs game after a Hammers board member agreed to meet fan groups.

Now West Ham have made an unprecedented announcement for the Spurs game as the board finally confront a major issue.

This is a rivalry that has grown in significance across the Premier League era.

The two clubs simply don’t get on and bragging rights are everything in this particular clash.

Potter is well aware of that, stating in his pre-match press conference that he and his players ‘know what the Spurs game means to fans’.

West Ham fans planning protests against the owners have a long and unwieldy list of grievances from the way the club is run to the move to the London Stadium and a lack of ambition.

One massive bone of contention has also been ticketing and stewarding at their rented home.

West Ham fans are regularly subjected to away fans getting tickets in the home sections since they moved to Stratford in 2016.

West Ham make unprecedented announcement for Spurs

Games against Man United, Arsenal, Newcastle and a host of others were marred by away fans getting in the home end last season.

That is a potentially volatile situation for any game given the tribalism which makes football so great.

But particularly in a fierce derby such as West Ham vs Tottenham.

Hammers fans feel their pleas to the club over away fans getting in the home end have been persistently ignored.

But now fan power looks to have finally won the day for West Ham.

Because the Hammers board have announced unprecedented security measures are being put in place for the game against Tottenham.

Whether it is a result of the board meeting with fan groups on Thursday or not remains to be seen, but West Ham are finally listening to their supporters over the infuriating issue.

West Ham have released a strongly worded statement telling supporters of both clubs that there will be increased security activity taking place against Tottenham Hotspur, specifically to prevent any Spurs fans gaining access to home sections of the London Stadium.

The news will prompt a collective cry of ‘about time too’ from Hammers fans.

And it is clearly to avoid a potential powder keg waiting to explode given the mood among a large section of West Ham’s fanbase.

“Supporters may observe increased security presence when entering London Stadium and may need to comply with additional checks at the turnstiles,” West Ham said in a statement.

“This is to help ensure that home supporters only are seated in the home sections and that all spectators have a comfortable experience when watching the match.

West Ham board finally confront major issue

“For security reasons, you will not be able to bring bottles, including reusable bottles, in to the stadium on Saturday and will need to decant any drinks into plastic cups at the security checkpoints.”

Fans have been advised to arrive early for the game given the extra security measures.

West Ham have also taken the decision to strictly ban half-and-half scarves at the game.

The Hammers state that any supporter, be it West Ham or Tottenham, who wears a half-and-half scarf or has items illustrating the colours/crests of both clubs will not be allowed inside the ground for the game.

In fact, if any fans are seen with half-and-half scarves from third-party sellers they will be confiscated by security staff and not returned.

Another victory for fan power at West Ham – now it remains to be seen whether the measures are actually put in place properly when the game rolls around.

West Ham vs Tottenham Hotspur kicks off at 5.30pm on Saturday evening.

Could there be two new names on the West Ham United team sheet when Graham Potter reveals his starting XI for Saturday’s Premier League derby against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur?

Well, it’s certainly a possibility. A selection headache of a more welcome variety.

While Graham Potter altered his tactics to great success last time out before the international break – Jarrod Bowen’s ‘world-class’ finish set them on their way to an eventual 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest – that long-awaited first victory of 2025/26 also owed much to a couple of new faces.

Mateus Fernandes was ‘exceptional’ on his Hammers debut, to quote former striker Carlton Cole. Callum Wilson converted his first West Ham United goal thanks to some magnificent work down the left from summer signing El Hadji Malick Diouf.

And, on what would prove to be a bitterly disappointing City Ground farewell, even Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that Nottingham Forest could not handle Crysencio Summerville as the returning winger made an electrifying impact off the bench.

Now that Summerville and Wilson have had another couple of weeks to build up their fitness, could both players make a first start of the campaign when Thomas Frank’s Tottenham come to town?

While Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann played down Niclas Fullkrug’s injury concerns, a calf issue picked up on international duty renders the big centre-forward touch-and-go for Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off.

Bowen could take Fullkrug’s place up top, of course. But Potter may also have the option of introducing veteran poacher Wilson, while keeping the skipper in his most effective right-wing role.

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Though 33-year-old Wilson may still be carrying a bit of rust after an injury-hit final season at Newcastle and the lack of a pre-season, he certainly does not look like a centre-forward lacking sharpness if those early Hammers cameos are anything to go by.

“He’s been great, as we expected,” Potter says of Wilson. “A fantastic professional, a great person to have around the club and training ground.

“We are still building him up. He hasn’t had a pre-season but his impact against Forest was fantastic. We are delighted with Callum, where he is at but also where he’s been, and how we can carry on helping him to have his minutes, make his impact, and contribute to the team.

“[Whether he can start against Spurs] is something we have to take a decision on. He has not been with us that long. It’s always in the back of your mind, we have to do the right thing for him and the team.

“But he’s the type of professional where, whether he starts or finishes [a game], he can have a great impact with us.”

Graham Potter backs Crysencio Summerville to kick on after Nottingham Forest win

Clearly, he has not lost that knack of sticking away chances.

Fellow ex-England international Darren Bent believes Callum Wilson can score 15 Premier League goals this season if he avoids a return to the dreaded treatment table. A man who netted 47 in 71 starts as a Newcastle player certainly appears to bring the sort of wily, penalty-box movement often lacking from Fullkrug.

And while Bowen feels Summerville will be like ‘a new signing’ for the Hammers – he assisted the captain’s City Ground opener two minutes after entering the fray before winning the penalty converted by Lucas Paqueta – Potter is equally delighted to have the club’s number seven back and desperate to make up for lost time.

“It’s great to have him. [Summerville] gives us another dimension,” Potter adds. “It’s been a long road with setbacks, so credit to him. He’s shown that mental strength.

“Now, we just need to help him enjoy his football because, if we do that, he is a big help for us.”

Remarkably, given the contrasting dialogue surrounding both clubs’ start to the season, West Ham can draw level with Thomas Frank’s Spurs with a win this weekend.

Tottenham were outstanding in the 2-0 away win at Man City three weeks ago. But the 1-0 reverse at home to Bournemouth seven days later – a match in which the Cherries mustered 20 shots to their hosts’ five – was a brutal reminder of the progress still to be made.

“There is not a big sample size. It’s three Premier League games,” Potter points out when asked to comment on Frank’s start in North London. “With the greatest respect, I’ve been thinking a lot about our team and the challenges we have.

“Any Premier League game you play, its always a tough match. The level is getting higher and higher, that’s the reality.

“It’s an important game for us. We understand how much it means to our supporters, so we want to carry on the feeling of positivity we had against Forest, do our best and try and win.”