Nuno Espirito Santo was today quizzed on the prospect of West Ham United bringing another maverick magician to Premier League, with Lazio winger Matteo Zaccagni and Al-Hilal star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic put forward as examples.
The Hammers certainly have a proud history of footballing artistes, from Paolo di Canio through to Lucas Paqueta, via Dimitri Payet and Mohammed Kudus.
Nuno Espirito Santo, though, would not be drawn on whether West Ham United will be in pursuit of another to continue that legacy in the upcoming January transfer window.
Finish the sentence: My favourite Paolo di Canio memory is… ?
Nuno is no stranger to giving blunt replies to awkward or occasionally odd questions. When the subject of transfers come up, meanwhile, the former Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur coach usually responds with a curt ‘not the time’, or words to that effect.
So when Italy international Zaccagni and Serbian supremo Milinkovic-Savic were mentioned as the kind of ‘maverick’ signings who could be within West Ham’s budget, Nuno’s reaction was as straight-batted as it was predictable.
Nuno bats away Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to West Ham United question

“I’m sorry, I understand your question,” Nuno began. “But it’s not the moment yet. I hope our fans come and see our [current] players’ actions.”
West Ham will host Aston Villa on Sunday in the capital.
As former Villain Paul Merson said in his Sportskeeda column, Unai Emery’s ‘outstanding’ Villa side are the favourites to claim all three points at the London Stadium following ten wins in their last eleven Premier League matches.
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