West Ham have a net outlay of just £1.56m so far in this transfer window. Will Potter be backed to rebuild or will stagnation lead to relegation?
| 2025/26 Premier League Outright Markets | Odds |
| West Ham to be Relegated | 6.50 |
| West Ham to Finish Bottom | 26.00 |
| West Ham to Finish in Top Half | 3.00 |
Odds courtesy of Bet9ja. Correct at time of publishing and subject to change.
Warning signs mount at the London Stadium
After parting ways with David Moyes last summer, hopes were high that Julen Lopetegui could deliver the squad rebuild most West Ham fans craved.
However, £150m invested and several inconsistent performances later, Lopetegui was unceremoniously fired, leaving the Hammers at a serious Premier League crossroads. Recruiting Graham Potter was a power move, especially considering he had rejected offers from multiple clubs since leaving Stamford Bridge.
There was hope Potter could implement his preferred system and style of play on the current squad, but results told a different story.
The Hammers picked up just 20 points from 18 games - a performance close to relegation level. It was only a final-day victory against already relegated Ipswich that lifted their average to just over one point per game under Potter.
A deeper look reveals a persistent losing mindset at West Ham. They’ve won just 15 of their previous 57 Premier League games under Moyes, Lopetegui and Potter.
If Potter is to make this philosophy work, the Hammers are likely to need a new centre forward, a much more dynamic midfield and potentially central defenders that are more comfortable with the ball at their feet.
None of these will come cheap for West Ham’s owner, David Sullivan. Due to PSR obligations and last summer’s spending under Lopetegui, the Hammers have to move on players before they make new signings.
They’ve already had to part ways with Mohammed Kudus, who joined bitter rivals Tottenham to fund the signings of Jean-Clair Todibo and El Hadji Malick Diouf. There could be one or two more painful departures needed to fund Potter’s transfer wish list.
Could the Hammers avoid relegation thanks to three worse teams?
If you’re looking for a value bet on the Premier League relegation market among the established PL teams, there’s only one club more concerning than West Ham right now.
Brentford are stepping into the unknown this season. They’ve lost head coach, Thomas Frank, plus several key players including Bryan Mbeumo. The Bees have also appointed rookie, Keith Andrews, as Frank’s replacement.
It looks like there’s a lot more that could go wrong for Brentford than the Hammers.
According to the betting markets, Brentford currently have a 23% chance of relegation. Meanwhile, the Hammers are said to have a 15.39% chance of the drop.
Wolves are another side struggling financially to rebuild and enhance their squad due to their PSR obligations. According to the betting markets, they also have a 23% chance of falling into the Championship in 2026/27.
West Ham might also avoid relegation by being marginally better than the newly-promoted teams. Leeds United are favoured to survive, but remain odds-on for relegation.
Sunderland have been bold and brave in the transfer market, with eye-catching deals for the likes of Habib Diarra, Enzo Le Fee and Granit Xhaka. However, Regis Le Bris has admitted more additions are needed, especially in defensive and goalkeeping positions.
Meanwhile, Burnley seem to be the most likely contenders for the drop, following a somewhat safe transfer window so far this summer. Veteran full-back, Kyle Walker, appears to be the Clarets’ marquee signing thus far.
With bigger question marks over the three promoted clubs, as well as Brentford and Wolves, West Ham may just avoid relegation by default next May.