Nuno Espirito Santo is pushing hard to get early deals done as West Ham’s January transfer window plans burst into life with four deals in the offing and the club closing on his first two signings.
Multiple negotiations are progressing behind the scenes as the Hammers look to reshape the squad quickly or face almost certain relegation.
It marks a decisive moment for Nuno Espirito Santo and the scouting team, who West Ham have made clear are in charge of transfers when the window opens in 10 days.
With three potential signings and one on the way out, it signals clear intent to address key problem areas and inject fresh energy into the group as West Ham move into the most crucial phase of their woeful season.
The Hammers are well and truly in the Premier League mire.
Four deals in the offing as West Ham window bursts into life
Nuno’s side are effectively seven points adrift of Leeds, the team many feel they are in a direct battle with to avoid joining Burnley and Wolves in the Championship.
The January window is very much last chance saloon for West Ham to sign the players who can help save their Premier League lives.
Strand Larsen will be the best striker West Ham have signed in years. He will save them from relegation… 😍
What do YOU make of this transfer?
That is often easier said than done in January, when it is notoriously difficult to sign quality players.
Although the Hammers have made some of their best signings in the winter window including Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek, Jesse Lingard and the likes of Dean Ashton previously.
A striker has been West Ham’s top priority for some time.
Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has been linked with a move to east London.
West Ham have revealed the truth about their Strand Larsen bid exclusively to Hammers News.
But there is plenty of work going on in the background on a host of other deals it seems.
Nuno appears to be closing on his first two West Ham signings as the window ignites with four deals in the offing.
It is a case of three potentially in and one out for the Irons.
Niclas Fullkrug’s loan move to AC Milan has been given the ‘Here we go’ by Fabrizio Romano on Monday.
The £27m German flop will join the Italian giants on loan for the rest of the season.
It is another terrible deal for West Ham as there is no loan fee, no obligation to buy and only an option.
Fullkrug out and three in for West Ham as deals mooted
The move represents a massive risk for the Hammers given Fullkrug’s lengthy history of serious injuries.
Fullkrug was never anywhere near good enough to play in the Premier League and is indicative of West Ham’s woeful recruitment in recent years.
How do YOU feel now about Nuno’s West Ham reign? 💡
Does he have a point or is he simply deluding himself?
While the striker hunt continues, with the Hammers trying to drive Wolves’ valuation for Strand Larsen down, West Ham are pushing to sign three other targets.
And two of them look to be edging closer to joining the Hammers as the first additions of Nuno’s reign.
When he was first appointed, Hammers News exclusively revealed Nuno wanted West Ham to sign Adama Traore in January.
Now, according to The Daily Mail, West Ham are continuing discussions over the proposed move for Fulham winger Adama Traore.
The 29-year-old Spaniard played some of the best football of his career under Nuno at Wolves and was wanted by him at Forest in the summer.
Traore is out of contract in the summer so Fulham are ready to cash in now to gain a nominal fee.
That is attracting cash-strapped West Ham, who have zero quality back-up for Crysencio Summerville or Jarrod Bowen.
Hammers News understands West Ham are pushing to get the signing of Traore wrapped up ready for the club’s most winnable run of fixtures all January.
Traore is also very much keen on the move.
Another signing which appears to be close is that of FC Utrecht left-back Souffian El Karouani.
Traore and El Karrouani want to join West Ham
The 25-year-old Morocco international is also out of contract in the summer and is therefore available for a reduced fee.
Free-kick specialist Karouani was surprisingly left out of Morocco’s squad for AFCON, meaning he would be available to come in and replace El Hadji Malick Diouf for the crucial January into February period.
Better still for Nuno, El Karouani wants the move to West Ham, saying the Hammers are a ‘great club’ and admitting his agent is working to get the deal done.
“It could happen, it’s a great club (West Ham),” El Karrouani told RTV Utrecht.
“My agent is working on my behalf. I’m waiting to see what happens. I can look back on a wonderful year in Utrecht.”
Hammers have Cresswell in sights again too
The third signing in West Ham’s sights is England Under 21 defender Charlie Cresswell.
Hammers News exclusively revealed last week that West Ham have reignited a move for Cresswell.
The Irons failed with a deadline day move for ex Leeds centre-back Cresswell in the summer window.
Toulouse rejected West Ham’s loan with £13.5m obligation offer and the club signed Igor Julio instead.
Cresswell was a key player as England Under 21s won the Euros in the summer.
Nuno is a big fan of his fearless defending, aerial ability and leadership.
Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg has doubled down on Hammers News’ revelation, stating that West Ham are very much in for Cresswell again.
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