The Curious Case of Vladimir Coufal: West Ham’s Most Productive “Striker” That Potter Let Go
It’s one of those football ironies that seems too strange not to be true: no current West Ham striker has more goals than Vladimir Coufal this season — and yet, it was under Graham Potter that he was allowed to leave for free.
Potter, whose ill-fated spell in charge of the Hammers ended in September after a disastrous run of form, presided over a number of decisions now being questioned by fans and pundits alike. Among those is his handling of Coufal — a player not traditionally recognised for his goal-scoring, but who has quietly become one of the most effective attacking-returning defenders in his new environment.
Coufal’s contract at West Ham expired in June, and the club chose not to renew it; he left on a free transfer after five solid seasons with the East London club and over 180 appearances. (Hammers News) Now plying his trade at Hoffenheim, he has already scored in the league and registered assists. (Hammers News)
Remarkably, he has scored twice this season, a tally that stands level with West Ham’s own forwards — Callum Wilson has also scored two, while Niclas Fullkrug, Callum Marshall, and Luis Guilherme remain without a league goal. (Hammers News) That means, in a strange twist, a defender-turned-goal contributor outperforms or matches the production of his old side’s primary attacked options.
This stat doesn’t just highlight a curious quirk of form — it underscores a deeper problem for West Ham under Potter. Despite boasting recognized strikers, the team lacked a reliable, clinical presence in the final third. Meanwhile, someone like Coufal, undervalued in terms of his offensive contribution, slips away and suddenly becomes one of your most effective “goalscorers.”
Under Nuno Espírito Santo, who replaced Potter, the urgency for a genuine goalscoring forward is growing stronger by the matchday. Potter’s decision not to offer Coufal a new contract now looks short-sighted; rather than retaining an experienced, multi-faceted performer, West Ham allowed him to depart — only for him to outscore those they kept up front.
In hindsight, letting Coufal leave may become one of Potter’s most glaring miscalculations. As it stands, the club are clearly missing real quality in the box — and the stat line of his former defender turned top goalscorer only amplifies that frustration. If anything, it sends a stark message: West Ham must be more astute in future contract decisions, especially when they’re letting hard-working, dependable pros slip out the door, only for them to shine elsewhere.
