Fullkrug and the exit-linked star – West Ham players with points to prove this season
West Ham are preparing to improve on last season’s poor Premier League performance.
Graham Potter’s side stumbled into a 14th place finish last time out, scoring only 46 goals in the process.
Potter was recruited in January to steady the ship after some dreadful performances under Julen Lopetegui.
This is his first pre-season in charge of the team, and he’ll be hoping to drill a more effective style of football into them.
Here are three players with a point to prove to the West Ham boss.
Niclas Fullkrug needs better second season
There was a lot of expectation on Niclas Fullkrug when he signed for West Ham last summer.
The German striker had been scoring goals for fun in the Bundesliga and was proving to be a key weapon for his national team.
But he flopped in his first season at West Ham, scoring just three goals in 20 appearances.
It will be hoped that Potter can get the team playing to Fullkrug’s strengths, otherwise he will be added to the long list of dud strikers signed by West Ham in the last decade.
| Season | Club | Goals | Assists |
| 2023-24 | Borussia Dortmund | 16 | 11 |
| 2024-25 | West Ham | 3 | 2 |
Alphonse Areola looking shaky
Potter has been desperately hunting for a new goalkeeper this summer. He has been linked with moves for Parma stopper Zion Suzuki and Leicester’s Mads Hermansen, among others.
Still, there’s just over two-and-a-half weeks until the new Premier League season starts, and he’s still stuck with Alphonse Areola as his number one.
| Season | Appearances | Clean Sheets |
| 2021-22 | 18 | 8 |
| 2022-23 | 23 | 8 |
| 2023-24 | 33 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | 26 | 4 |
Areola has made several basic errors that have led to goals in pre-season. If he’s picked for West Ham’s opening Premier League games, he will have to prove he can be relied upon.
That’s going to be extra difficult when it’s so obvious that Potter and many of the West Ham fans have lost faith in him.
Lucas Paqueta continues to be linked with exit
West Ham fans rarely saw Lucas Paqueta at his best last season.
The Brazilian playmaker scored five goals and registered zero assists for the Hammers in 36 appearances.
That’s a far worse goal contribution rate than in previous seasons in East London.
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2023-24 | 43 | 8 | 7 |
| 2024-25 | 36 | 5 | 0 |
Paqueta is likely to have been affected by charges of breaking gambling regulations, but he’s set to be cleared of these in the coming days.
We saw glimpses of Paqueta at his peak in the pre-season friendly against Everton, and Potter will be hoping to see that level of performance more often, even if talk around his uncertain future lingers.
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