Ex-West Ham striker Benni McCarthy says the Hammers “can cause major upsets next season” even without major changes to their current squad.

Many fans believe that the first team needs a radical overhaul, but speaking exclusively to Hammers Headlines (courtesy of betonlinepromocodes.com), McCarthy said that head coach Graham Potter already has some top players at his disposal and it is up to him to get the best out of them:

“What Potter needs now is to get his players playing his brand of football and winning matches. The task is to get the players to tick. If he can do that, they’ve got some serious players. You’ve got Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen, and Mohammed Kudus. My goodness, what an attack. This is when Potter’s managerial skills count.”

“But West Ham isn’t an easy place for managers. Somehow, there’s always something that is holding them back, from maximising their potential. I think he needs to find a way to get them to gel, and more importantly, to get them to believe they can achieve something together.”

“They can’t keep having players of this quality and then just battling against the drop, surviving by the skin of their teeth. They can cause major upsets next season if Potter gets them playing their best.”

Kudus and Paqueta could both leave the London Stadium

McCarthy doesn’t take into account that Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta may not be at West Ham that much longer.

Kudus is attracting interest from the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Newcastle, and his £85m release clause is currently active. Paqueta, meanwhile, is believed to be keen on returning to Brazil even if he is acquitted of spot-fixing allegations over the coming weeks.

West Ham need to address some major weaknesses

Even if we do put aside the futures of Kudus and Paqueta, Potter does not have a recognised No.9 in the squad other than Niclas Fullkrug, while there are issues at the back and in midfield.

Despite nearing preseason, the club have yet to make their first signing and supporters are justifiably concerned about what may happen next season without reinforcements being brought in.

In other news, West Ham have been tipped to sign two Chelsea players if they sell Kudus