The dust has now settled on West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League and Nuno Espirito Santo has revealed the surprising thing the club’s stars have been telling him.
In the end, the Hammers missed out on Premier League survival by a solitary win.
To rub salt in West Ham’s relegation wounds, it was their bitter rivals Spurs who stayed up at their expense.
With the club’s finances a mess, a fire sale of leading stars is expected this summer.
Nuno says West Ham stars want to follow his lead by staying
Even if West Ham have stated they hope Jarrod Bowen will stay at the club in the second tier.
The Hammers have also put on record they don’t want to sell Mateus Fernandes amid interest from a host of top clubs across Europe.
What are you most looking forward to about the 2026/27 Championship season? 👀
New signings? Millwall clashes? Youngsters getting a chance? No VAR? Or something else? ⚒️
Whether that is the genuine intent or the club merely trying to be savvy in driving up prices ahead of expected bids remains to be seen.
There has been intense speculation over whether certain West Ham players want to stay and get the club back in the Premier League.
Hammers fans are desperately hoping they can keep the likes of Bowen and Tomas Soucek to lead the charge for a return to the top flight.
West Ham’s owners have already made it clear players must be sold to plug the financial hole at the club, which has only been made worse by demotion to the Championship.
First order of business for the Irons was to sort the manager situation out with Nuno Espirito Santo staying at the club after widespread belief he would depart.
Now Nuno has revealed the surprising thing West Ham stars have been telling him since relegation.
Nuno: West Ham stars ‘already getting ready’ to help promotion bid
Speaking in a lengthy sit-down interview for the club’s official website, Nuno says many of his players have made it clear they are determined to help get West Ham back where they belong.
“From everywhere (I get the sense there is a determination to get West Ham back in the Premier League,” Nuno said.
“From everywhere I go, from everyone I speak to there is this commitment. And I think it is the weight of responsibility that we carry.
“It didn’t end up well, we felt bad but there’s a responsibility to go back, to give something from ourselves.
“Many of our players already are getting ready for the new challenge and this is really positive for us. So we are looking forward to it…
“There’s a moment for grief and then get the energy back… we have to come together for only one mission – that’s going back to the Premier League.”
There is no hiding that it is welcome but surprising that West Ham players are making it clear to the manager they intend to follow his lead by sticking around next term.
Whether those players actually stay true to their words if Premier League or European clubs come calling is another matter entirely.
But it is hugely encouraging to hear and will put a spring in the step of Hammers fans everywhere.
Nuno and the Hammers will soon be able to start plotting that return to the big time.
Here is every team West Ham will face in Championship and the 2026-27 fixture release date ahead of what Nuno, the board, the fans and his players expect and hope will be a promotion-winning campaign.
The Portuguese certainly has pedigree at this level having won the Championship with Wolves on a whopping 99 points back in 2018.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
