West Ham’s board have admitted their big concern about the loss of two key players in January and it explains an enquiry made to Arsenal for a standout star.
Hammers News exclusive
The Hammers fully intend to back new head coach Nuno Espirito Santo in the January transfer window.
West Ham have made it perfectly clear to Hammers News that the club’s number one priority is to sign a striker.
But in an ideal world, the Irons also want to add a defender and midfielder as a bare minimum too.
Wantaway West Ham striker flop Niclas Fullkrug will be allowed to leave if a deal can be agreed with Italian and German clubs interested.
Most of the club’s efforts behind the scenes right now are being channelled into signing a new forward for Nuno, the top spokesman for West Ham’s board has told Hammers News.
Striker a top priority but not only focus for West Ham in January
There is renewed hope and belief around the team that West Ham can now go on to pull clear of danger after their abysmal start to the season had them looking over their shoulders at the Championship.
As Nuno pointed out after back-to-back wins over Newcastle and Burnley, West Ham still have a long way to go and have merely played catch-up on the teams above them.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
The next step will be consistency of performances and results to rise up the Premier League table.
Nuno not only has his players and Hammers fans believing again but the owners too.
While West Ham won’t have mountains to spend in the winter window, the manager will be supported with signings.
The club is already being linked with a plethora of players seven weeks out from the window opening.
When he first took over, Hammers News exclusively revealed Nuno wants West Ham to sign Adama Traore in January.
Nuno Espirito Santo celebrates as West Ham United beat Newcastle in the Premier League
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
That is now being widely reported elsewhere six weeks on.
A number of forwards, defenders and midfielders – including Quinten Timber – are also being linked with winter moves to West Ham.
Losing players is also something the Hammers need to guard against.
Especially with £100m plus losses coming in the club’s next accounts, due to be released in December.
Jarrod Bowen and other leading stars will not be for sale.
David Sullivan has already responded after being offered £50m for Lucas Paqueta.
But there are two players West Ham will definitely lose in January and it’s causing the club’s owners sleepless nights.
West Ham board fear losing key duo for ‘very winnable run’
The West Ham board have admitted their big fear about losing a key duo and it explains an enquiry made to Arsenal.
When confirming plans to sign a new striker, the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners reflected on a ‘really positive couple of results’.
But the Hammers’ hierarchy are concerned the team will be losing both their starting full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf – potentially for as long as six weeks – when the African Nations takes place between December 21st and January 18th.
Clubs are required to release players at least a week before the tournament and, should they go all the way, it is standard practice for stars to be given at least a week of recovery afterwards.
El Hadji Malick Diouf celebrates West Ham beating Newcastle United in the Premier League
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Diouf has, on the whole, been outstanding since signing for West Ham from Slavia Prague for £19m in the summer.
The same can be said for bargain £15m Hammer of the Year Wan-Bissaka.
Both are key to the way West Ham play under Nuno, looking to make the most of fast breaks.
But Diouf and Wan-Bissaka will be away at AFCON with Senegal and DR Congo respectively.
Hammers chiefs admit they are worried about the impact losing Diouf and Wan-Bissaka will have on the team.
“Sadly we lose both full backs to the African Nations at a time when we have very winnable games on paper,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.
The West Ham fixtures Wan-Bissaka and Diouf could miss
Diouf and Wan-Bissaka will likely have to be released after the Aston Villa game on December 14th.
The group stage of AFCON lasts until December 31st which means the duo will miss West Ham’s games against Man City, Fulham and Brighton at the very least.
Should Senegal and/or Congo progress further – as they are expected to given both nations are among the favourites – then the duo could also miss games against Wolves, Forest, Spurs and Sunderland.
So it is easy to see where the Hammers board are coming from.
It also gives completely new context to an enquiry West Ham have made to London rivals Arsenal for Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Mohammed Kudus during Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur: Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
According to recent reports, the Hammers have been alerted to the situation of the young Gunners full-back.
Lewis-Skelly has not been featuring as regularly under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal this season after his emergence on the Premier League and England scene last term.
In a new report, Caught Offside claim West Ham are now seriously monitoring Lewis-Skelly’s situation after England boss Thomas Tuchel said he needs more minutes to be considered for his squad.
New context to West Ham enquiry for Lewis-Skelly
It is being reported that Lewis-Skelly may decide to go out on loan in January so he can try to earn a place in the World Cup squad.
West Ham’s Premier League rivals Everton, Fulham and Forest are also said to be interested.
While Kyle Walker-Peters can play left-back or right-back, young Ollie Scarles showed recently he probably can’t.
Scarles struggled being brought back in from the cold by Nuno at right-back and suffered a shoulder injury which will keep him out until December.
So clearly West Ham will need full-back cover for such an important run of fixtures, meaning a move for Lewis-Skelly adds up.