Desperately hoping to turn things around at the London Stadium, Graham Potter has reportedly set his sights on signing a defensive addition for West Ham United this summer.

Potter turnaround must start against Tottenham

Whilst neither Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham have anything to play for in the Premier League with four games remaining, there’s no taking away from the importance of a London derby and Potter should use that to his advantage.

So far, Potter’s West Ham tenure has been full of moments to forget. In an instant, his side stagnated without any true new manager bounce, but the visit of the Lilywhites could change that.

West Ham now battling to sign "commanding" £47m giant who silenced Haaland

The Hammers are already eyeing summer additions.

ByTom Cunningham

Speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference, the former Chelsea boss said: “Spurs have had a tough season in the Premier League, because of injuries and other reasons. That just shows that in this league, nothing’s forgiven.

“But, they’ve done well in Europe, and hopefully they can get the job done and get to the final. This is the most important game for us, because it’s the next game. And then you add on the fact it’s a London derby, and the added importance for our supporters.

“I feel for our supporters because they’ve had a tough year. That’s the reality. They’re frustrated, understandably so, and we want to try and give them something back.”

Likely doing himself no favours by wishing his rivals well in their pursuit of European glory, Potter must ensure that all the talk is around an excellent West Ham performance rather than his pre-match words and another afternoon to forget on Sunday.

Meanwhile, with little to play for, the Hammers have already turned their attention towards the transfer market and some much-needed upgrades in Potter’s first summer in charge. And that could yet see an impressive defender arrive.

West Ham pushing to sign CJ Egan-Riley

According to GiveMeSport, Potter is now determined to revive his West Ham spell by signing CJ Egan-Riley this summer. The Burnley defender is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, presenting the London club with an ideal opportunity to swoop in and land a bargain deal. At just 22 years old, there’s no doubt that he would be an impressive signing too.

Starts

39

34

Progressive Carries

26

29

Progressive Passes

127

106

Ball Recoveries

180

135

The stats paint quite the picture for the Burnley man, who has played a vital part in his side’s sensational defensive record in the Championship this season. Next to Max Kilman at West Ham – a defender who has also done well in possession – Egan-Riley could form quite the partnership.

Earning plenty of praise from Scott Parker as a result of his performances, the Burnley boss told reporters after Egan-Riley scored his first goal for the club: “I’m pleased for CJ. CJ’s been immense since he’s come in – a young boy that’s probably not had a lot of opportunities since he’s been at the football club. And he deserved that goal tonight.

“He’s been the backbone, and a driving force with this back four, back five. In terms of the clean sheets, and the defensive work of this team, CJ has brought a lot of quality. He deserves his opportunity, and he’s taking it with both hands. I’m really, really pleased for him.”