West Ham United summer transfer window 2025: Top targets, budget, most likely signings and priority positions

West Ham United ended the 2024-25 Premier League season in 14th place with just 43 points, and the campaign fell far below supporters' expectations.

Julen Lopetegui started in the dugout last term, and with the former Real Madrid man at the helm, fans were picturing a top-half finish at the very least.

The Spaniard had also been backed significantly in the transfer window - the likes of Maximilian Kilman and Niclas Fullkrug were added in the summer of 2024 - but the head coach did not last the season.

Graham Potter took over in January, but the Englishman managed only five wins in his 18 Premier League matches. Now, the former Chelsea boss will be hoping to receive the same level of backing in the transfer market as his predecessor as he prepares for the upcoming season.

With the summer market now open, Sports Mole assesses West Ham's top targets, budget, most likely signings and priority positions for the 2025 window.

West Ham's top targets for 2025 summer transfer window

The Hammers have been strongly linked with a move for Galatasaray forward Baris Alper Yilmaz, but reports also suggest that they could face competition from Nottingham Forest for his signature.

Further reinforcements are also anticipated in forward areas, and now that striker Evann Guessand joined Aston Villa from Nice, Stade Reims attacker Adama Bojang could be their focus, though Everton have also been credited with an interest.

Earlier this summer, the Hammers had identified Jacob Ramsey as a candidate to strengthen their midfield, but Newcastle United beat them to the Englishman's signature for a fee that could rise to £43m.

West Ham saw a bid for Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes turned down, though they have reportedly returned with an improved offer this week, while also making a potential big-money move for Chelsea's Andrey Santos.

At the opposite end of the pitch, the Hammers were keen to sign Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor, but they have given up that pursuit after securing the services of Mads Hermansen from Leicester City.

The Hammers have been looking to sign a new defensive midfielder in the closing stages of the transfer window, and they have been negotiating a deal for AC Monaco's Soungoutou Magassa.

Potter could also look to bring in another attacking midfielder to the ranks, and the Hammers are reportedly exploring a deal for Werder Bremen's Romano Schmid before the close of the transfer window.

West Ham's budget for 2025 summer transfer window

The £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer of 2023 helped the club fund much of their transfer activity over the last two seasons, but fans are concerned about whether the team will continue to spend.

In quotes reported on West Ham's official website in April, Potter assured supporters that he will be given enough financial support to be competitive, saying: "The potential here is huge and exciting. We have a lot of things going for us. The resources are there to be competitive. We have a really ambitious and supportive board. Now it is about building a foundation to allow us to achieve."

Over the past five years, West Ham rank sixth in the Premier League for net spend (£264.5m), placing fifth, seventh, and fourth in the last three seasons, respectively. Their transfer budget could be further boosted by offloading some current players, and one major name, Mohammed Kudus, has already departed.

The Ghanaian international joined Tottenham Hotspur for £55m, though he remains the club's only sale to date, given that full-backs Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Creswell left for free upon the expiry of their contracts.

West Ham's most likely signings for 2025 summer transfer window

While West Ham are certain to add to their offensive ranks, but it would not be surprising if they also looked to reinforce in defence, with Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis linked. Given the Saints were relegated to the Championship, the Englishman could be a cost-effective addition to Potter's side and he would be a strong partner to Kilman.

Up front, Yilmaz could represent a smart, cost-effective addition, now that Guessand is unavailable, while Bojang is also seen as an affordable attacking option. West Ham had previously been linked with AC Milan striker Tammy Abraham, but any hopes of securing his signature have now ended following his move to Besiktas.

Elsewhere, West Ham's improved offer for Fernandes could see the Southampton star make the move to London, and given that Saints have reportedly bid in the region of £12m for Middlesbrough midfielder Finn Azaz, there could be progress on the deal imminently.

Fernandes has a long-term contract until the summer of 2029 after joining the Saints from Sporting Lisbon last summer, but the Portugal Under-21 international will surely be open to the prospect of securing an immediate return to the Premier League.

The Hammers have made a loan offer to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare. While a bid has been rejected, Forest are ready to sanction a permanent deal or a loan with a 100% obligation to buy.

West Ham's priority positions for 2025 summer transfer window

With Kudus now gone, finding players capable of operating out wide and in the team's number 10 role will be important, but after Grealish joined Everton, it remains to be seen who the club may sign.

West Ham have also failed to replace versatile striker Michail Antonio, with Fullkrug having struggled with injuries in 2024-25 and likely to be plagued by more problems in the future considering that he is 32.

The Hammers only netted 44 goals in the Premier League last term - the sixth-worst return - and Potter will want to ensure that his side are more threatening in 2025-26.

Potter is also looking to add quality to his midfield, with the West Ham boss believed to be keen to add two new players to his engine room before the transfer window slams shut at the start of September.