West Ham are braced for an all-important January transfer window that may well define Nuno Espírito Santo's first season in charge, with David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board poised to back their new manager.
Following back-to-back Premier League wins and the first time they've won two straight home games since 2024, things are finally starting to click into gear for Nuno.
West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo arrives before the match
The Portuguese tinkered heavily with his first West Ham starting line-ups before finally discovering a winning formula against both Newcastle and Burnley, with Nuno naming an unchanged side for both matches as the east Londoners secured vital victories.
However, West Ham reportedly have no intention of resting on their laurels, and credible reports suggest that Nuno has been told they have a transfer budget to spend in the winter (Sky Sports).
West Ham's results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
Niclas Füllkrug's damning injury record and lacklustre spell at the London Stadium is paving the way for him to leave in January, and it is believed that West Ham are actively targeting a striker to potentially replace the German.
While Callum Wilson has done well in West Ham's last two games, even getting on the scoresheet against Burnley, Nuno won't be too comfortable relying on the 33-year-old given his own torrid fitness record.
West Ham also want a new defender, and potentially a midfielder if they can manage it (Sky Sports), but it is worth noting that they won't have a bottomless pit of cash for January either, according to journalist Dean Jones.
david-sullivan-west-ham-premier-league
The potential sales of Fullkrug, Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse could be crucial when it comes to raising funds, with all three players linked to the West Ham exit door and seemingly not part of Nuno's long-term plans.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in an interview with Hammers News, they could also make the surprise decision to sell another squad member who's only just arrived.
West Ham now ready to sell summer signing Mads Hermansen
Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen swapped Leicester for the London Stadium in a £20 million deal last summer, putting pen to paper on a five-year deal in August, but the Dane has since lost his place in the starting eleven to Alphonse Areola.
Mads Hermansen
He started West Ham's first four games of the season, conceding 11 league goals in total, with Areola seizing the number one spot back and West Ham now pondering a shock January call.
According to Bailey, West Ham are ready to cash in on Hermansen if the opportunity arises, but could also send him out on loan to get minutes elsewhere before returning.
“Hermansen has struggled since coming in and was dropped early on,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“And I am told West Ham would cash in on him in January if that is possible.
“It would not shock me if they even loaned him out to get his confidence and form back, which would also help his valuation.”
If the 25-year-old were to leave permanently already, it would mark one of the shortest stints of any new West Ham player in recent memory, but would it be the right move?
Hermansen's had just four games to showcase his worth in a turbulent side who seem likely to be battling relegation, and the shot-stopper is still very young in goalkeeping years. His prime is still to come, and goalkeeping coaches like Casper Ankergren have revered the former Leicester star as a serious talent between the sticks.
"He shows how fast and athletic he is," Ankergren said in 2023.
“He has been really, really good. He has trained really well, and it shows in the games he plays.
“It is obvious that he has a slightly different role now, but I also think that he has become better at dominating the field. Mads has become more mature.
“We have talked a lot about him taking on more responsibility now that he is a little older and has played a few games for Brondby and has been captain of the U21 [Danish] national team. He has happily taken that on his shoulders."