Nuno’s blunt message to West Ham board ahead of January window.
He might have been speaking to the media regarding the up and coming trip to the south coast, but Nuno Espirito Santo’s words would have sent a pretty unmistakeable message straight to the West Ham boardroom.
The Hammers hierarchy have again made their position on player signings clear, with another very public admission that the club ‘needs to sell before buying’ – but the head coach has issued his own ‘hands off’ warning regarding his talisman ahead of the January transfer window.
With media stories and the transfer rumour mill cranking up again ahead of January over links suggesting Lucas Paquetá is again likely to be the subject of interest from both within the Premier League and from Brazil when the transfer window opens, the Hammers’ coach has tried to get his own stance on the Brazilian ‘out there’ early on:
“You can’t replace a player like Lucas, he’s irreplaceable. We have to be aware of what he means to us, what he gives us and his talent.”
The Hammers face an uphill battle to climb out of the relegation zone – their head coach seems keen to put down a marker as to the importance of the Brazilian staying with the side and not being offloaded in January.
West Ham’s head coach makes his stance on a Paquetá sale very clear
Whilst funds need to be found, Espírito Santo’s very plain message is that he needs Paqueta in his side next year come what may – which could yet prove hugely divisive if the big money comes calling for Paq-man in January.
Nuno will certainly not want the board’s resolve tested by a big bucks offer at the time when West Ham are most vulnerable, needing funds but sitting at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
