By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham have reached Deadline Day with some fairly significant holes still remaining in Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad.
Nuno needs a left-back. He needs another centre-half and, in my opinion, he desperately needs more creativity.
There appears to be plenty happening, particularly defensively, but it’s difficult to escape the feeling that we’ve left an awful lot until very late.
There are mitigating circumstances. West Ham started the summer expecting El Hadji Malick Diouf to remain and Nuno was certainly planning with him in his team.
His eventual £40million departure to Brentford therefore created a left-back problem which the club hadn’t expected to have.
But that problem now needs solving.
West Ham Make Late Left-Back Move
According to The Athletic, West Ham have submitted an offer to sign Roma left-back Anass Salah-Eddine on a season-long loan.
That’s encouraging because, for me, left-back is absolutely essential.
At the moment West Ham don’t have a natural senior left-back capable of overlapping the winger and consistently delivering crosses with his left foot.
We have some promising youngsters, but we shouldn’t confuse potential with having a promotion-ready squad.
Salah-Eddine spent last season on loan at PSV, making 25 appearances as they won the Dutch title.
C&H Source Tips Morato For Hammers Move
Centre-back is another area West Ham are attempting to strengthen.
As Claret & Hugh revealed yesterday, Nottingham Forest defender Morato has emerged as the most likely central defender to arrive.
Our source told us:
“At this stage, he looks like the most likely centre-back West Ham will sign.”
Talks have continued over the Brazilian, with both a straight loan and a loan containing an obligation discussed.
I’m not against signing Morato, but I’m also far from convinced he’s better than Max Kilman.
Another centre-back would undoubtedly strengthen the squad, but I consider sorting out left-back even more important.
Morato is likely to sign and currently in London
But Where Is The Number 10?
The biggest concern for me is actually a position West Ham don’t appear to be addressing at all.
Where are the links to a creative midfielder?
We’ve watched this team struggle repeatedly to break down opponents who sit deep. Possession isn’t much use when there isn’t anybody capable of picking the lock.
That problem was painfully evident again during the 1-1 draw at Watford, when West Ham had plenty of the ball but struggled to turn possession into clear chances.
Divin Mukasa potentially gives us that creativity and Manor Solomon could possibly play centrally, but that’s incredibly light.
West Ham need somebody who can operate as a genuine number ten and I’m surprised we haven’t been seriously linked with one.
Soungoutou Magassa is still looking for an exit, meanwhile, with Crystal Palace interested, although Jacob Steinberg reports that West Ham are currently blocking a move.
The £200m Question
Then we come to the money.
If reports that West Ham’s remaining business is likely to be restricted to loans are correct, supporters are perfectly entitled to ask why.
We’ve brought in around £200million from the headline sales of Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville, Freddie Potts and Diouf alone.
Yet the expenditure on permanent and loan arrivals has been a fraction of that.
Obviously transfer finances aren’t as simple as adding one column and subtracting another. Fees are structured, instalments exist and the club has significant financial commitments.
But if West Ham really have reached Deadline Day with no significant money left for permanent transfers after generating those sales, it probably tells you something about the financial state of the club.
Nuno needs a left-back. He needs another centre-half and, in my opinion, he desperately needs more creativity.
There are only hours remaining.
West Ham have left themselves an awful lot to do.
Isn’t Engels, our marquee signing, supposed to be the creative spark? Problem is, you also need fast and well-drilled runners ahead of him as outlets to break down a stubborn defence.
The number of times I saw Engels, Orford and others in possession looking around for a through ball before passing it sideways/backwards suggests we don’t have enough players who have the initiative (or been well coached) to run channeld and create outlets.
The 200m question is basically how much we lost last season. By all accounts we needed to find £125m meaning that left only £75m, probably less with fees etc.
Kretinsky didn’t bail us out with 100m as was initially reported, think he wouldn’t until the ownership situation is sorted
Getting a 10 in won’t solve our problems. We’re slow all over the pitch so unless you expect the 10 to play as a 6 and 8 running around like a blue a**ed fly then nothing will change as transition is slow from the back to our forwards.
Bowen is prime no10 now he’s slowing. Rooney esq and should be moved inside now he’s lost half a yard. Taty can play 10 and is suited to that role better than an out and out striker.
More ai slop. This is just insulting. Will you admit it?
Give it a rest Jim, if you don’t like it, go read something else. Number one it’s all genuine, your silly ‘AI’ accusations are immature these days when it is easy enough to put it through an AI checker (if you weren’t too lazy). Number two its FREE to you so I have no idea what you are complaining about. Just don’t click, mate, if you don’t want to.
Sorry Gonzo but your comment regarding Kilman vs Morato is an insult to the possible new signing. There are better defenders playing every week on Hackney Marches than Kilman . He has zero positional sense , cannot tackle , doesn’t jump and couldn’t lead a dog down an alley . He is not fit for purpose. ⚒️⚒️
Agreed if this guy’s “As good as Kilman”, then I for one definitely don’t want him anywhere near our squad.
The well is dry and alley is a dead end.
Taken a leaf out of Sullivan’s book and left it to eleventh hour.
Looks like options are down to one.
Beggars can’t be choosers.
Disasi was claimed to a disaster but turned out mustard can only but hope for this guy.
Must admit he doesn’t look 5 star.
Wouldn’t have got Bellis as he’s gone to Villa @ £30m (to much for whu).
Is anyone really surprised that we’ve not done enough business, and our squad is a mess, despite the fact that we’ve raised so much money through player sales?
Kretinsky is just another leech. Look at his record at Sparta Prague and read what their fans think of him. He’s not well-liked to put it politely.
I’ve no idea why some fans thought he’d be the knight in shining armour to come and rescue us.
The geezer’s been at West Ham for almost 5 years and watched us sleepwalk towards relegation. He’s as useless and self-interested as any other owner we’ve had before.
Gonzo your spot on If those positions are not filled by 11 PM Serious questions must be asked of Nuno and koppen classed as negligence and failure
Very good website, thought out and interesting views. I agree that if the intention is immediate promotion, this is unlikely with the current squad. Lots of bigging up talk from the club but no real intent from the money men. Terrible advert pop ups though whilst reading.
Supporters en masse should hand back their season tickets and demand refunds as they were bought with false information and promises LIARS,LIARS,LIARS.
Gonzo, the money from sales has gone towards filling the £250m hole created by cumulative losses of £150m over the last two seasons and the £100m drop in income created by relegation … messrs Sullivan, Steidten and co can perhaps offer some thoughts.
Nuno needs one of those big red double-decker buses to park in front of goal at the London Stadium. But more than that, Nuno needs replacing!
we need a goalkeeper