West Ham United manager Nuno Espírito Santo has spoken openly about Lucas Paquetá leaving the club for the first time today.
Addressing reporters ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea, Nuno spoke candidly about moving on from Paquetá and his hope that the club will recruit further players before the transfer window closes.
“You cannot replace Lucas, because he is unique. We have to move forward. We have played without him in the last three matches. We still have days to go, and the club is working very hard. We expect things to happen.”
David Sullivan will need to back Nuno Espirito Santo
Fans Await More Than Squad Fillers
Those comments will be music to the ears of West Ham supporters, many of whom will be hoping the manager is not merely referring to a couple of substitutes arriving in goal or central defence.
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Nuno refused to be drawn on specific positions, but given his repeated insistence that the squad needs better balance, it would be reasonable to hope — and assume — that at least one more attacking player will arrive before the deadline.
With Paquetá gone and funds now available, attention turns to whether West Ham will truly strengthen the first team in the final days of the window, rather than simply make up the numbers. But with David Sullivan claiming the decision to spend rests with the manager, at least we’ve now discovered Nuno does indeed want backing.