West Ham and Wolves to battle it out for ‘unplayable’ star who will be sold in January
Nuno Espirito Santo could have an advantage as West Ham and Wolves battle for one player’s signature in the January transfer window.
Rob Edwards’ side are destined for relegation, sitting bottom of the Premier League table after 16 games, joined by West Ham and Burnley in the dropzone.
With Leeds United and Nottingham Forest also just above the bottom three spots, it is anyone’s guess who will eventually be tossed down to the Championship next season.
Mick Brown revealed to Football Insider that Nuno has overhaul plans at West Ham ahead of January, and the same is likely at Molineux Stadium for the side still looking for their first win.
Fulham are open to selling Adama Traore in January
While he has yet to register a goal contribution this season, Adama Traore remains a dangerous player in England’s top division, mainly because of his pace on the flank, and he could find a new home next month.
Football Insider understands that Fulham have decided to sell Traore, rather than lose him on a free transfer next summer, having been linked with Nottingham Forest recently.
Last season, the 29-year-old notched two goals and eight assists in all competitions, clearly still able to create a moment of magic, years on from being labelled “unplayable” by Graeme Souness [Sunday Times].
While Wolves are keen to bring Traore back after five seasons at Molineux, Nuno is actively looking for new players at the London Stadium, and their previous work together could help seal the deal.
What has Nuno Espirito Santo said about Traore?
It is believed that Nuno’s exit at the City Ground was partially due to his falling out with Edu over the targeting of Traore, with the former manager on his own when it came to the transfer.
Speaking back in 2019, the now-Hammers boss described the player as “unique worldwide”, lauding his overall play and talents on the pitch [Sky Sports]. He is clearly a massive fan of Traore.
There appears to be a mutual respect between the two, and with the Irons showing more hope of securing Premier League safety this season, that could be another big bonus for him.
While fans are currently fearing the worst, there have been some positive displays in recent weeks, and Nuno appears to be getting more out of his players, at least more than Graham Potter managed.