The recent links to Portuguese U-21 midfielder Gustavo Sa, a Jorge Mendes client only reaffirms the super agent is still heavily involved with West Ham’s recruitment while Nuno Espírito Santo is the Head Coach.
Tricky start awaits Nils Koppen
In 2017 when Nuno began his managerial career at Wolves, the Mendes era began with Rúben Neves, Helder Costa and Diogo Jota becoming the first signings via his Gestifute agency followed by Roderick Miranda, Rafa Mir, Ruben Vinagre, Rui Patrício, Raul Jimenez, João Moutinho and Jonny Otto, Pedro Neto, Bruno Jordao, Patrick Cutrone, Daniel Podence and Adama Traoré, who as we all know was signed again in 2026 for a six month spell at West Ham. In 2020 Wolves paid big for Fábio Silva (£35m) with Mendes acting as the broker, and Nélson Semedo (£27.5M and £9.2m add ons), Rayan Ait-Nouri also joined.
Incredibly even after Nunos departure in May 2021, Mendes continued to bring players to Wolves and by August 2022 they had spent an estimated £330m on players who were either Gestifute clients or deals facilitated by Mendes.
With only 124 days under his belt at Spurs, Mendes was reportedly involved in the signings of Bryan Gil and Emerson Royal. One year at Al‑Ittihad led to Nuno again bringing in Mendes clients, Fabinho and Jota.
Even at Nottingham Forest from 2023-2025 where the chairman Evangelos Marinakis is known as being hands on, Mendes was involved in the loan deals for Giovanni Reyna (who has since changed agencies) and Rodrigo Ribeiro.
At West Ham, Mateus Fernandes was signed before Nuno arrived, yet outside of Traore, Pablo Felipe signed in January 2026.
Gustavo Sa is not a player many West Ham fans will know, including me, and a Youtube compilation hardly offers an insight into whether he would be any good for West Ham. Any unknown player signing is always a gamble, and if he turns out to be a success then no one will care who his agent is. Yet it should not be ignored that West Ham hired Koppen to modernise the club. That only works if he is the one fully steering recruitment.
Allowing external agents or managerial influence to override that framework risks repeating the instability West Ham have suffered in previous eras.
Much better pedigree than Pedro, vocal and was captain.
Rui Pedro Silva (Nuno’s lieutenant) has also previous worked with him.
Has spoke highly about him.
Much admired by Portuguese press and fans disappointed he’s presumed to be leaving.
Surely the coach should be allowed to suggest players to sign?
Let’s hope that Koppen is aware of Sa so that there an independent view of whether he’s be a good fit. We must replace Fernandes but let’s hope that we’re not sold a pup -again.
I guess we’ll have to wait till the transfer window closes before we have a true picture of who signed and from where.
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the previous regime departing unexpectedly has meant that new business has been cobbled together hastily.
We need a rebuild as departures will be plentiful.
Let’s get behind DK and remain patient for the next few years, because it’s going to take a monumental effort from all of us to undo the mess left behind from BS.