Thursday nights must feel rather empty for fans of West Ham United these days, those Europa League and Conference League days seemingly lightyears ago.
Though the good news is that, in Nuno Espirito Santo, the London Stadium is now home to a manager who has a habit of shaking sleeping giants from their slumber, and setting the alarm clock to ‘European qualification’.
Nuno took Nottingham Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season, ending a three-decade long absence from continental competition. Wolves also reached the Europa League quarter-finals on his watch.
No one is expecting Nuno to make it a three-peat with West Ham United this season, of course. But give him time, a full pre-season and a few new transfers in 2026, and who is to say history cannot repeat itself?
For now, though, the Hammers fans can do little but sit and watch a handful of Premier League rivals embark upon their own European adventures.
Crystal Palace, due to their status as FA Cup winners, took on one of the ambitious, Clearlake-funded up-and-comers of Strasbourg on Thursday night in Alsace.
In another universe, the goal which helped secure a 2-1 comeback victory for Liam Rosenior’s side, Diego Moreira assisting Emanuel Emegha, may have given the West Ham faithful an enticing snapshot into what they could look forward to in the New Year.
FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-STRASBOURG-NANTES
Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea have ruined West Ham United’s chances of reuniting Emanuel Emegha and Diego Moreira
Hammers News reported over the summer that Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha was high on West Ham’s wishlist.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Scorer of 14 Ligue 1 goals in a breakout campaign, there are shades of Alexsander Isak in Emegha. Well, the Newcastle version, that is. Athletic, silky-smooth, and a classy finisher inside the penalty area.
But, as the more traditionally-minded Strasbourg supporters always feared, Chelsea would end up taking full advantage of those Clearlake connections.
What will be the result of West Ham vs Liverpool?
Back in September, Chelsea secured Emegha’s services for 2026.
TBR Football also revealed that the two-time European Champions also have a buy-back clause in the winger who assisted Emegha’s second-half tap-in against Oliver Glasner’s outfit. There is, therefore, a chance that the rampaging Diego Moreira could be serving up chances on a silver platter for his Strasbourg sparring partner at Stamford Bridge soon enough.
“Exceptional. It is a beautiful cross from Moreira, right on a plate,” former England manager Glen Hoddle said on TNT Sports while watching Strasbourg cancel out Tyrick Mitchell’s opener at the Stade de la Meinau.
“It is a beautiful bit of football, it really is.”
West Ham still have a shot at Strasbourg winger Diego Moreira
While West Ham’s interest in Emegha goes back to last season, Claret and Hugh reported as recently as last week that Diego Moreira has now been the subject of an admiring glance from the London Stadium.
In order to get a potential deal done for the twice-capped Belgium international though, the Hammers may need to rely upon a favour from their rivals to the West.
Chelsea scuppered West Ham’s hopes of getting Emegha dressed up in claret and blue, though. And they could yet do the same with a speedy left winger who has accumulated five assists this season already.
Amid protests from some Strasbourg ultras – feeling that the price of progress has been the selling of their soul – president Marc Keller hits back at claims over an alleged ‘feeder club’ relationship. He does, though, admit that Racing are the ‘younger brother’ in this particular arrangement.
Chelsea have already snatched one of Strasbourg’s toys. And, as Moreira and Emegha serve up a reminder of the thrilling partnership which could have come to West Ham, Keller stops short of ruling out a repeat of that contentious Emegha switch.
“I know a minority of people are still asking some questions about the multi-club model,” Keller tells BBC Sport. “Of course, we continue dialogue, and I think that the best answer, as I used to be a footballer, is on the pitch.
Hear everything Nuno Espirito Santo said before West Ham v Liverpool
“I don’t think we are a feeder club, because a feeder club we are sending three, four, five, six players to Chelsea every season.
“I think it’s more like a younger brother relationship, as we say in France, but you say sister club in England.
“We help each other.”
Thanks to their shared ownership, Strasbourg qualified for Europe for the first time in over a decade while Chelsea have snatched one of the game’s finest young strikers from under the noses of many a rival suitor.
West Ham still have hope of landing one half of Strasbourg’s swashbuckling forward partnership. But they, like Strasbourg, again find themselves at the mercy of the Blues.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox