With the signings of Crysencio Summerville, Flynn Downes, Jordan Hugill, Ryan Fredericks and Said Benrahma yielding mixed results, West Ham United owner David Sullivan remains wary of signing players on the back of impressive Championship campaigns.
Crysencio Summerville produced his best display under Nuno as West Ham United won successive Premier League home matches for the first time since October 2024 against Burnley last time out.
And, while the £30 million signing from Leeds is in the midst of a goal drought which has dragged on for over 12 months, Summerville at least looks set to play a major role in Nuno Espirito Santo’s revival project.
When it comes to previous signings made on the back of fine second-tier campaigns, though, successes are harder to find. Said Benrahma certainly strays further into the ‘hits’ column. But Flynn Downes, Jordan Hugill and Ryan Fredericks are all undoubted ‘misses’.
Hammers News were told by chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, at the beginning of the summer, that owner David Sullivan is wary of big Championship investments on the back of previous failures.
So while Nuno tells West Ham board that a striker is a must during the January transfer window – the head coach ideally wants a mobile number nine capable of running the channels and pressing from the front – those hoping to see Norwich City’s Josh Sargent or Coventry’s Haji Wright arrive should not be holding their breath.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesDavid Sullivan unconvinced by West Ham United signing Haji Wright or Josh Sargent
Bailey revealed to Hammers News on Wednesday that both Sargent and Wright were put to Sullivan.
The West Ham owner currently has no plans to soften his stance, though, regarding acquisitions from England’s second tier.
The stance, regarding Sargent, is perhaps understandable given how the goals have dried up for the usually-prolific USA international. The Norwich talisman flew out of the blocks with five in his first four league outings this season.
But, as the Canaries embarked on an alarming slide down the table, he is now in the midst of an eleven-game goal drought.
Fellow American Wright has gone five games himself without finding the net. His impressive tally of eight goals in 13 Championship starts for leaders Coventry, though, is bettered only by Sky Blues teammate Brandon Thomas-Asante and Derby County’s Carlton Morris.
But if West Ham do indeed back Nuno with a new number nine in January, it appears far more likely that one will arrive from overseas or potentially from another Premier League club. A move for Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee is unlikely.
Ruben Amorim wants to keep both he and Kobbie Mainoo at Old Trafford, even if the seldom-seen duo would ideally like to play more minutes with their World Cup hopes fading by the week.
Nuno wants an ‘athletic’ striker as Niclas Fullkrug rumours swirl
Neither Sargent nor Wright could come cheap, by the way.
The Wolfsburger Allgemeine reported that talks between Norwich and Wolfsburg broke down over the summer because the Canaries would not budge on their £20 million asking price. Coventry would presumably not let Wright go without an almighty battle, meanwhile.
Former West Ham midfielder Frank Lampard has Coventry flying, five points clear at the top of the Championship. Wright could conceivably prove to be the man who brings about their long-awaited Premier League return after a quarter of a century away.
“Nuno has assessed the squad in detail since taking over and he does feel there is an issue up front,” Bailey told Hammers News a few weeks ago.
“He wants a striker who is ‘athletic’ and can move the opposition defence. The current options don’t offer that. He has a few issues, but that is the main one.”
Money tight at the London Stadium with Brazilian duo ‘offered’
West Ham have no plans to sell Niclas Fullkrug unless a replacement is lined up first. Though if the injury-hit German does leave – Sky Deutschland report that Augsburg and Wolfsburg are emerging as front-runners – this may see the Hammers bank a decent fee while getting one of their highest-paid players off the wage bill.
“One thing is that they might be relying on loans, or deals that have obligations,” Bailey adds. “Am told there is not lots of money, they might need to sell to buy.
“Nuno has warned the club that they need to do something in January. This is a tough season coming. The three promoted sides [Sunderland, Leeds and Burnley] are at a different level to last year.”
Per Fabrizio Romano, Brazilian whizzkid Endrick is closing in on a move to Lyon.
West Ham like Endrick’s Real Madrid rival Gonzalo Garcia, too. Mateo Pellegrino of Parma and Club Brugge’s Romeo Vermant have been mentioned in the media as well. Hammers News have also been told that Flamengo ace Pedro and Cruzeiro’s Kaio Jorge were ‘offered’ via intermediaries recently.