West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s arrival is already beginning to spark a plethora of rumours, with his new squad expected to be reshaped over these coming months.
Nuno Espírito Santo given full West Ham backing with Arsenal next
Premier League title-chasing Arsenal await West Ham next after Nuno oversaw a 1-1 draw against Everton on Merseyside.
The Portuguese saw glimpses of the defensive frailties which have cost West Ham time and time again this season, with Konstantinos Mavropanos leaving Michael Keane in acres for Everton’s opening goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Michael Keane
8.0
Max Kilman
7.3
Alphonse Areola
7.3
Jarrod Bowen
7.3
James Garner
7.1
via WhoScored
Having conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League so far, with seven of them coming directly from corners, Nuno knows exactly what he has to fix if the Hammers stand any chance of pushing themselves away from the relegation zone.
Unfortunately for them, Arsenal’s well-documented major threat from set pieces since the beginning of last season is a real worry for Nuno’s side, and becoming more robust at dealing with dead balls will undoubtedly be key in thwarting Mikel Arteta’s side.
On a more positive note, Nuno’s pragmatic style not only solidified Nottingham Forest’s own defensive weaknesses, but also catapulted them up the table and back into Europe for the first time since the 1990s.
If it wasn’t for a public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis, Nuno would still be at the City Ground right now, so it is clear as day why Karren Brady pushed West Ham to appoint Nuno and convinced the board to hand him a long-term three-year deal, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook.
According to recent reports, West Ham are already planning to back Nuno with signings in January, so the Hammers appear to be fully convinced that Nuno is the right man to step into Graham Potter’s shoes.
The former Tottenham and Wolves boss has already stamped his authority on the team by dropping previously key players — omitting midfielder James Ward-Prowse from the Everton matchday squad in what was a bold move.
Since the 30-year-old’s axe, it has been reported that Ward-Prowse has been told he can leave West Ham in January.
James Ward-Prowse tipped to leave West Ham and re-join Southampton
Journalist Dean Jones, speaking to TEAMtalk, has shared an update on the Englishman’s future.
The reporter claims that Ward-Prowse is indeed resigned to leaving West Ham early next year, and he could even re-join former club Southampton.
“You would like to think he would at least get a chance to make an early impression, but the signs are that he is not part of the picture at West Ham and won’t be coming back into the frame,” Jones said.
“He had been a major part of the early weeks but West Ham struggled and then he’s straight out of the side as soon as Nuno comes in.
“The player knows the writing is already on the wall and he is going to have to carefully consider how he brings his season back to life. A January transfer is going to be on the cards and there is already a whisper that he is going to get the chance to return to Southampton.”
Ward-Prowse had been a starter for Potter, but under Nuno, history is repeating itself, as the 51-year-old also cut short his Forest loan spell when he briefly spent time there last season.
Signed largely for his threat from set-pieces by David Moyes, Ward-Prowse is apparently just one free-kick goal off equalling David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18, but it is unlikely he’ll get to achieve that landmark in Claret and Blue.
Pundit Alan Shearer praised the “world-class” Ward-Prowse for his form immediately after arriving at West Ham, but things can change very quickly in football.
“James Ward-Prowse is world-class,” Shearer told Match of the Day 2 when talking about his deliveries.
“He is the best around and has been for a long time. Two assists today, he’s got nine all season in all comps, more than any other Premier League player, it’s a nightmare for defenders.”