Nuno Espirito Santo has shown he is no ‘yes man’ for West Ham’s owners after refusing to be thrown under the bus by the board over signing a replacement for Lucas Paqueta.
With Lucas Paqueta gone after being sold for £36.5m to Flamengo, all eyes turn to whether West Ham can – and will – sign a replacement.
Paqueta got his wish to return to his boyhood club in Brazil after refusing to play for West Ham in the last three games.
The Hammers won all three to give new life and meaning to their dismal season.
It was not too long ago that Nuno Espirito Santo was describing Paqueta as ‘irreplaceable’ when he was suspended.
Ball put in Nuno’s court over replacing ‘irreplaceable’ Paqueta
Now that question will be answered one way or another before the January transfer window closes on Monday night.
But it seems the games have already begun over whether West Ham will even try.
How will you remember Lucas Paqueta? 🤔
Hammers conspiracy theorists believe West Ham knew they would be selling Paqueta this month – especially given his talks with Flamengo bosses started in early December.
As a result many believe the club have already spent the Paqueta money on the signings of strikers Taty Castellanos and Pablo.
Focus has shifted to signing a goalkeeper and a centre-back this week with few links to creative midfielders who can potentially replace Paqueta, on paper at least.
Paqueta – and West Ham signing a replacement – formed a large section of Nuno’s latest press conference on Thursday.
As is the norm nowadays in these tired and stale media gatherings, the manager played most things with a straight bat and gave little to nothing away.
But Nuno refused to be scapegoated by the West Ham board over signing a Paqueta replacement.
Prominent Irons insider Sean Whetstone counts majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady among his top contacts inside the club.
Nuno refuses to be West Ham board scapegoat over Paqueta replacement
Speaking via Whetstone, a top club source put the ball firmly in Nuno’s court over signing a replacement for Paqueta before the window closes.
“The decision whether or not to replace Lucas Paqueta rests with Nuno Espirito Santo club insiders have claimed,” Whetstone said on X.
If Paqueta left for £35m, how much is Summerville worth right now? 🤑
Roma made an offer in January…
“West Ham and Flamengo have agreed a £36.5m fee for the 28-year-old wantaway Hammer who is expected to fly to Brazil for his medical soon.
“Asking whether West Ham were in the market for a like-for-like replacement for their number 10, the club source replied: “It is the manager’s decision.”
Many fans have accused the club’s board of trying to throw the manager under the bus with those comments.
It is seen by some as the board’s way of having someone to blame if failing to sign an adequate Paqueta replacement ends up costing West Ham their Premier League status.
But Nuno has, once again, shown he is no ‘yes man’ for the ownership – a fact that will only endear him further to Hammers fans who are disgruntled with the board.
The Hammers boss pushed back against any suggestion it is all on him over signing a new midfielder to replace Paqueta.
Nuno clearly saw the potential trap that was laid for him by the hierarchy as scrutiny intensifies over how West Ham plan to handle life without one of their most influential players.
Nuno refutes suggestion he will make call on using Paqueta funds
By saying it is the manager’s decision as to whether West Ham sign a Paqueta replacement, the board have suggested Nuno will be given the £36.5m for a new signing.
But the Portuguese was in no mood to play those games.
When asked in his press conference whether Paqueta will be replaced, Nuno said West Ham “have to move forward with what they have”.
Nuno pointed to the fact West Ham have managed to find solutions without Paqueta in their last three games.
But it is now clear, from the manager’s own mouth, the Paqueta money is not sitting there for him to spend as has been suggested by West Ham’s top brass.
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