West Ham United appear to be closing in on their first signing of 2026 already. Whether it is FC Utrecht left-back Souffian El Karouani or Fulham winger Adama Traore, though, only time will tell.
While most would prefer a new centre-forward or a central defender – Hammers News can confirm that Nuno Espirito Santo is desperate for attacking reinforcements while talks with Toulouse regarding Charlie Cresswell are ongoing – getting those priority targets may be easier said than done.
For now, West Ham United supporters may have to console themselves with a challenger to El Hadji Malick Diouf, and an experienced wideman capable of providing competition on the flanks.
Eredivisie ‘Assist King’ Souffian El Karouani is ‘on his way’ to the London Stadium, according to RTV.
The ASSIST KING may be coming to West Ham! 👑
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David Ornstein, one of the most respected reporters in British football, also revealed on Monday evening that an offer is expected to arrive on Marco Silva’s Craven Cottage coffee table, too.
Hammers News have already revealed that West Ham want to reunite Nuno with Traore as early as possible, with a more winnable selection of fixtures coming up in the New Year. Having worked extremely successfully with Graham Potter’s replacement at Molineux, meanwhile, the former Wolves speedster is certainly open to the move.
But is remaining in the Premier League Traore’s only possibility?
Adama Traore does not rule out Mexico move as West Ham United hold Fulham talks
The former Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Barcelona prospect spoke to Mexican expert Gibran Araiga after coming off the bench during Fulham’s 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Monday evening.
Raul Jimenez scored the winner from the penalty spot, lifting the Cottagers above Tottenham into 13th.
And having previously been linked with a move to Jimenez’s homeland of Mexico, with Club America, Araiga did not miss the opportunity to ask the Spain international about a potential switch across the Atlantic.
“I like Mexico,” Traore said in response, careful to stray the line between coy and dismissive. “First, I have to visit it. You have to take me, then you never know!
“[The yellow shirt of Club America is] beautiful, always beautiful.”
One suspects this answer was one made by a player keen to keep his options open, and keen not to offend his company.
“I do think we could see some exits on the horizon [from Fulham]. West Ham, we’re hearing, could be coming in with an offer for Adama Traore,” the aforementioned Ornstein tells NBC Sports. “Of course, Nuno Espirito Santo managed him at Wolves.
“And [Fulham’s most in-form forward] Harry Wilson, despite his form, there are a lot of clubs looking at him.”
Nuno Espirito Santo eyes Traore reunion as Hammers prepare for a clash with Marco Silva
Speaking of Wilson, head coach Marco Silva is hopeful that his Welsh wizard will be fit to feature against their London neighbours two days after Christmas.
“It looks like he’s going to be OK,” Silva says of Wilson, who is one goal ahead of his namesake Callum with five. “I think it was like a big knock there. It was not something that he twisted but now it’s, of course, painful.
“But let’s see, [on Tuesday]. We have a session, we are going to assess the players from tonight and see how he’s going to heal.”
A London DERBY awaits! 🎡
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Despite incessant criticism over his end product, meanwhile, Traore did provide an impressive seven Premier League assists last season.
That was his best return since at Wolves in 2019/20, when Traore terrified Pep Guardiola and ran Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool ragged.
His electrifying brace during a famous 2-0 win at the Etihad remains one of the best individual underdog performances in recent Premier League history.
“Nuno has been a massive figure for me,” he told The Mirror at the time. “It’s the confidence he gives me.
“That is massive for a player. Maybe you think it’s just me but, if you ask any of the guys, they will tell you that the confidence of the manager is as important as the training you go to on a daily basis.
“A lot has changed for me but the football ability has always been there. It’s just [I needed] a little bit of adjusting.”
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