Three players West Ham could sign in January, one has already agreed terms
Nuno Espirito Santo has agreed to join West Ham and will be busy reshaping his squad ahead of the January transfer window.
Graham Potter was sacked by West Ham on 27 September with the East London side sitting 19th in the Premier League table.
Despite a difficult season, the Hammers were limited in their spending capabilities in the summer window just gone, thanks to Tim Steidten’s lavish outlay in 2024.
However, with relegation a very real threat for West Ham this season, the club will undoubtedly be active in the January transfer window, and here are three players that Espirito Santo will be very keen to add to his new squad.
Adama Traore
Nottingham Forest were very keen on signing Adama Traore this summer when Espirito Santo was still the man at the helm.
The pair spent three seasons together between 2018 and 2021, during which time the Spaniard evolved from a speedy winger who lacked end product into one of the Premier League’s most feared attacking threats.
And whilst the Portuguese boss was in charge at Molineux, he revealed that he was always looking to adjust his team to “exploit the maximum talent that Adama can give us.” [Sky Sports]
West Ham’s current wingers, Jarrod Bowen aside, lack confidence and ingenuity, and adding the Fulham man to their ranks could be exactly the sort of signing to breathe life into the struggling side.
Yves Bissouma
Yves Bissouma was linked with a move to West Ham in this summer’s transfer window, although a transfer failed to materialise.
The Spurs midfielder was once regarded as one of the Premier League’s best during his time at Brighton, but he has struggled to find his form in North London.
No longer in Thomas Frank‘s plans, the 29-year-old would likely be available for a cut-price fee, allowing the Hammers to pick him up and also focus on other positions in January.
Espirito Santo was a fan of his whilst Bissouma was at Brighton and the midfielder joined Tottenham a year after the Portuguese boss departed North London.
The Mali international would be a fantastic addition to West Ham, adding bite and smart passing to a midfield that is crying out for more energy.
Yuri Alberto
West Ham agreed personal terms with Yuri Alberto in January 2024, but the transfer itself was never completed.
This summer, the Hammers instead turned to free agent Callum Wilson to add goals to their frontline, but the former Newcastle man has found the back of the net just once in six games this season.
Goals have been desperately hard to come by this term, and that is one of Alberto’s great strengths, having scored 59 times in 163 games for a struggling Corinthians side.
The Brazilian forward stands at 6ft tall and whilst not the quickest, he is remarkably adept on the ball and shares similarities with Raul Jimenez, whom Espirito Santo developed into one of the Premier League’s most dangerous number nines during their time together at Wolves.
Alberto would add energy and creativity in a position that West Ham have tried over and over to find a solution for, making him an ideal signing this coming January.