Nuno Espirito Santo has responded to criticism from the West Ham board, firing back with a pointed transfer warning that underlines the growing pressure in east London.
West Ham are in the mire and the finger-pointing started ahead of the January transfer window opening on Friday.
The Hammers play Brighton on Tuesday before games against fellow Premier League strugglers Wolves and Nottingham Forest.
In reality nothing less than nine points will do if West Ham are to give themselves a realistic chance of Premier League survival this season.
But the home defeat to a depleted Fulham side raises big question marks as to whether West Ham are capable of stringing three wins together in seven days having won only three in their 18 games so far this season.
One of those came against Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest side and the other two after the Portuguese joined the Hammers as Graham Potter’s replacement.
Nuno sack claims reignite three months into West Ham tenure
Nuno has struggled to have the kind of impact and bounce on West Ham’s results as many hoped and expected.
It looked like the Irons had turned a corner when they beat Newcastle and Burnley back-to-back.
Imagine if Nuno were to be sacked…😮
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Throwing away leads at Bournemouth and Brighton and at home against Aston Villa have cost West Ham seven points and they have now gone seven games without a victory.
That has seen early pressure mount on Nuno just three months into the job.
West Ham responded to the latest Nuno sack claims ahead of the Fulham defeat, insisting they are backing the manager.
But that has not stopped fresh speculation since the Cottagers loss, with claims Nuno could be replaced as the likes of Kieran McKenna, Harry Redknapp and Slaven Bilic are linked.
It comes after the West Ham board voiced frustrations with Nuno over transfers ahead of a vital January window opening later this week.
The club’s hierarchy spoke out saying Nuno is very slow to approve players.
That was after Nuno insisted he’ll only focus on signings when the window is open.
That was in the wake of a top journalist revealing there have been murmurings behind the scenes with the club’s top brass unhappy at the lack of clarity coming from the head coach about who he wants to sign.
With tensions rising and West Ham about to enter the last chance saloon, Nuno Espirito Santo has hit back at the West Ham board criticism and issued a transfer warning.
Nuno hits back at West Ham board criticism
When asked about the transfer situation which is causing friction between the board and Nuno, the Hammers boss made it clear he has more important things on his mind with the game against Brighton.
“(There are) decisions that we have to make, and to manage as best as we can all the players.
McKenna would be the perfect Nuno replacement…😍
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“Let’s focus on Brighton,” Nuno insisted in his pre-match press conference.
“After Brighton, the transfer window will be open and we can discuss that.”
Nuno did not waste the opportunity to put the ball firmly back in the board’s court, either.
The Hammers boss made it clear that January signings are a necessity to ensuring the club has a chance of survival.
Nuno fires transfer warning to West Ham owners
“It’s very important, it’s very important,” Nuno said of West Ham’s window, before making it clear the squad he has inherited is nowhere near good enough.
“We need to rebalance our squad but now it’s time to focus on Brighton. After, the Club is working and the transfer window is open, we’ll make decisions.
“Like I said, I think we need to rebalance the squad. There are positions where we need to have more options.”
The board speaking out – and now Nuno’s response – suggests a disconnect already over recruitment.
As the transfer window approaches, Nuno’s words have added fresh urgency to an already volatile situation at the London Stadium.
It is imperative West Ham United get it right – but that usually requires everyone at the club to be pulling in the same direction.
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