Nuno Espirito Santo has moved to reassure West Ham fans over the club’s lack of transfer activity as two very different strikers are linked.
There has been a landslide of positive news at West Ham since Daniel Kretinsky announced he is becoming majority owner.
The Czech billionaire has gone on record to state the Hammers do not have to sell players for financial reasons.
But a Kretinsky transfer masterclass has seen West Ham wipe out their deficit in revenue from dropping out of the Premier League with the sales of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville for a combined £155m.
Nuno reassures West Ham fans over lack of transfers
Despite the departures, the Hammers have retained manager Nuno Espirito Santo, captain Jarrod Bowen and vice-skipper Tomas Soucek.
Other key players Taty Castellanos, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mads Hermansen are set to stay too.
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But while supporters have been impressed at the huge fees Kretinsky has managed to command for Fernandes and Summerville, there is concern among some about a lack of activity in the other direction.
West Ham are yet to make a single new signing.
The £1m conversion of Keiber Lamadrid’s loan into a permanent deal is the only business ‘in’ at West Ham so far this summer.
Given the club’s stated aim of winning automatic promotion straight back to the Premier League, it is fair to say West Ham are leaving it late to make additions with the league season just over three weeks away.
There is some angst among fans, who felt a lack of urgency in last summer’s window ultimately cost the club its place in the top flight.
But now Nuno has moved to reassure West Ham fans over the club’s lack of transfer activity as two very different strikers are linked.
Nuno expects West Ham signings ‘soon’ as two strikers linked
The Hammers’ head coach has told fans he and Nils Koppen are working together – and in a different way to before – to ensure they get West Ham’s signings right.
Nuno believes incomings are not far away and says he is confident the squad will be improved and ready for the Championship.
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“Nils is a top professional, fantastic person,” Nuno said in an interview broadcast on Sky Sports News.
“He’s adapting well to the club.
“We are working, trying to do things different, but avoid mistakes, get it right. The right pieces for our project. Soon, soon.
“We expect to have the squad ready.”
Nuno’s comments come as transfer links pile up.
The latest two being strikers from very different moulds.
West Ham are one of the clubs showing serious interest in Slavia Prague’s giant 6ft 6in striker Tomáš Chorý.
According to Czech site Infotbal, the Hammers could offer Chory ‘financially attractive conditions to join’.
West Ham have done plenty of business with Slavia Prague in the past signing Soucek, Vladimir Coufal and El Hadji Malick Diouf from them.
The report says a final decision on the striker’s future is expected as soon as Thursday – which may tally with Nuno’s claim that he expects incomings ‘soon’.
At 31, Chory would appear to be a short-term battering ram option to help West Ham navigate the more blood and thunder long-ball football they will encounter in the second tier.
It should be no surprise Chory scores plenty of headed goals, which makes him ideal for the Championship – and valuable in both boxes.
Another forward being linked with West Ham is the pacy and athletic World Cup striker Bamba Dieng.
The 26-year-old Senegal international has been linked with West Ham on several occasions in the past and is now available as a free agent after leaving Lorient following a decent season in which he scored 16 goals.
The international teammate of Hammers ace Diouf notched 10 goals across 22 Ligue 1 appearances for Lorient last season, adding another six across other competitions.
TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey claims Dieng has been offered to West Ham, who are weighing up the deal.
At 26, he should be entering his peak years, so would represent low-risk, savvy business from West Ham – especially in the Championship.
Whether West Ham move for both – or either – remains to be seen.
But Nuno appears confident deals will be done soon so patience is key for Hammers fans right now.
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