West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is ready to stay and lead a promotion push after the Hammers were relegated from the Premier League on Sunday. However, he will have to deal with the realities of needing to raise significant funds before the new season starts.
After days of speculation, West Ham indicated on Wednesday that their Portuguese boss will stay. “We held meetings with head coach Nuno Espírito Santo early this week and are pleased to confirm that he has expressed his continued commitment to the club – as we have to him,” a statement read.
Early estimates suggest at least £100million will need to be raised in player sales. A number of high earners from the relegation squad are obvious candidates, though some will command higher sums than others.
What might things look like for the Hammers by the time the first ball of the new season is kicked? We have taken a speculative look at what’s in store for Nuno and his players.
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We have already seen hints that a couple of current players might not have a future at the London Stadium. Alphonse Areola’s situation looks tricky after his wife’s explosive comments about Nuno, while Jean-Clair Todibo reportedly refused to play for the boss against Leeds, though starting keeper Mads Hermansen might stay with youngster Fin Herrick as his backup.
Axel Disasi will also leave, with the Chelsea loanee surely doing enough to earn another Premier League move, while Everton are said to be keen on Aaron Wan-Bissaka for around £10m. Player of the year Dinos Mavropanos has been linked with a £25m Bundesliga return and El-Hadji Malick Diouf could join Manchester United, though it remains to be seen if relegation sees West Ham reduce their reported £40m asking price.
There is likely to be less interest in Max Kilman, while Kyle Walker-Peters gave Southampton a year in the Championship after their 2023 relegation so may well be willing to do the same in East London. Ollie Scarles or Ezra Mayers could get more opportunities on the left if Diouf leaves, while fellow academy talent Airidas Golambeckis can expect to be closer to senior league minutes.
View 4 ImagesJean-Clair Todibo may well have played his last game for West Ham(Image: News Images/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
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That still leaves room for a new addition or two. Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been linked in the past and could be available after Southampton missed out on promotion, while attacking left-back Souffian El Karouani – a target in January – is available for free when his Utrecht contract expires but there have been mixed reports over a Saudi Pro League switch.
The biggest sale, at least financially, is likely to be that of Mateus Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder was linked with a summer move even before relegation was confirmed, with Champions League clubs interested in a player who could still fetch a cool £60m if a bidding war breaks out.
Fernandes arrived alongside Soungoutou Magassa at the end of the summer window and the Frenchman could stick around in the second tier or head out on loan, depending on Nuno’s plans for him. Some of this could depend on the future of Edson Alvarez, who has been out on loan in Turkey this season but could provide the kind of leadership some complained was lacking this term.
View 4 ImagesFreddie Potts has Championship experience from a loan at Portsmouth(Image: Dennis Goodwin/ProSports/Shutterstock)
Tomas Soucek could also stick around, with a big fee for the 31-year-old unlikely, while Mohamadou Kante has the midfield legs and dynamism to star in the Championship. Freddie Potts has already shown quality in the second tier during a Portsmouth loan so should stay, while George Earthy could have a part to play after ending last season with Bristol City.
James Ward-Prowse will likely see the Nuno news as a sign to depart, with savings on the midfielder’s wages more important than a big fee. As for incomings, there have been links with out-of-contract Brighton man Solly March but his injury record could be a factor.
West Ham can expect to field bids for Crysencio Summerville, Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen – potentially helping the Hammers recoup between £50-100m. However, there remains some hope that club captain Bowen could yet follow the path trodden by former Leicester star Jamie Vardy and stay to lead a promotion push, though much will depend on which clubs come in with a bid.
Taty’s fellow January addition Pablo Felipe could yet stick around, with no potential suitor likely to match his wages. The Brazilian is still young and the club may feel a year in the second tier can help him build confidence in front of goal after a tough first few months in England.
View 4 ImagesJarrod Bowen will need to make a decision on his future(Image: MI News/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
Forgotten men Maxwel Cornet and Niclas Fullkrug will surely leave, even if that means ripping up their contracts with time to spare. Callum Wilson could also depart despite extending his contract mid-season, with Nuno seemingly flip-flopping on his opinion of the England international.
One of Adama Traore or Keiber Lamadrid might stay after short-term stints, with Nuno’s future suggesting the former is more likely. The Hammers might also turn to the free agent market, where options include Southampton’s Ross Stewart or – if recent talks come to nothing – even a reunion between their manager and Fulham veteran Raul Jimenez.
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Of course, if more can be raised through sales – the likes of Fernandes, Diouf, Mavropanos, Summerville and Castellanos could fetch north of £150m between them – there could be funds available to bring in more adventurous signings. It won’t be easy to climb back up at the first time of asking so West Ham will want to put themselves in the best possible position.
Potential West Ham XI: Hermansen; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Kilman, Scarles; Soucek, Alvarez, Kante; Bowen, Pablo, Traore.
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