West Ham’s transfer plans appear to have been given a shot of urgency by Nuno Espirito Santo after a close ally of David Sullivan claimed plans have burst into life behind the scenes.
It is worth West Ham supporters noting why Nuno Espirito Santo was ultimately sacked by Nottingham Forest.
Nuno was unhappy that his say on transfers was watered down by the arrival of Edu and he spoke out against the board.
There has already been friction at West Ham between Nuno and the club’s owners, who are wildly unpopular with fans.
Nuno said he would only focus on transfers when the window is open, when speaking to the press before the games against Fulham and Brighton.
The West Ham board then called Nuno out over transfers this week, claiming he is ‘very slow’ to approve targets to sign.
West Ham transfer window bursts into life
After the draw with Brighton the Hammers boss hit back, though.
Nuno issued the Hammers hierarchy with an ultimatum and insisted he had already told the board the names of players he wants to sign.
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That demand being that he wants signings to be made as early as possible in the January window with every game and every point absolutely vital in the fight for Premier League survival.
Given there has been speculation over his future over the last week, that could be seen as a risky play from Nuno.
But it seems to have worked.
Because West Ham’s transfer window has burst into life as a top David Sullivan ally lifts the lid on plans.
With patience wearing thin among supporters and pressure mounting over the very real prospect of relegation, West Ham’s top brass are insisting the club is going all out to make signings.
The Hammers have been accused of dragging their heels in previous windows and waiting until the last minute to do deals.
Sullivan in particular, as the club’s de facto director of football, has been criticised for chasing unrealistic targets and making lowball offers that have no chance of succeeding.
David Sullivan ally lifts lid on West Ham transfer plans
But it seems the gravity of West Ham’s dire situation has finally hit home in the London Stadium boardroom.
Whether it is the threat of falling off the Premier League gravy train, the amount of ground West Ham have to make up to stay up or Nuno publicly calling them out to get signings in early, the owners have been sparked into action.
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That’s according to Sean Whetstone, a longstanding ally of Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.
The Hammers insider claims his club sources have told him that West Ham are ‘bidding for players all the time’ ahead of the opening of the winter window on Friday.
The board sources told Whetstone the club are pushing to sign players despite West Ham’s precarious financial position.
Hammers News exclusively revealed back in June that West Ham were facing record £100m losses in their latest accounts to be released imminently.
While West Ham insist they are bidding left, right and centre for signings, Whetstone claims a lot of targets are refusing to join due to the club’s league position.
But West Ham insist they only want players who are up for a relegation fight.
Simon Jordan once famously accused Sullivan of ‘phantom bids and faux ambition’ with his transfer business at West Ham.
West Ham ‘bidding all the time’ for ‘realistic’ targets
Now sources claim the club is living in the real world, insisting transfer targets are ‘realistic’ with Nuno prioritising players with ‘Premier League and high end Championship experience’.
This update will offer cautious optimism — albeit one laced with familiar scepticism.
But the proof of the pudding, as always, will be in the eating.
And West Ham better be cooking up something special if they want to stay in the Premier League come what May.
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