4th February 2026 Daniel Luker (@danielluker_)
By Louis Nixon
Nuno Espirito Santo was provided with four signings this transfer window, but that might not be enough to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.
A transfer window which, at the beginning, many thought would set the tone and that the owners had perhaps finally recognised that West Ham were in serious trouble in the Premier League and were going to face relegation if signings weren’t made.
Within the first 5 days of the window opening, Nuno was given Taty and Pablo, both of whom have transformed the Hammers’ attacking play and allowed Nuno to play a new style, which so far has been superb in scoring goals and thrilling to watch.
However, after signing two strikers, only a cheap £1m deal for Adama Traore, as well as a 6-month loan of Axel Disasi. Nuno requested to sign an exciting, young central defender that woul’dvre grown into his style of play.
He needed two central defenders to feel comfortable and questions have to be asked as to why he wasn’t given them. Nuno needed a forward, we provided them to him and look at us in attack now, it could’ve been the same with the defence.
It’s a big ask to suggest that Nuno will be able to snap his fingers and solve our defensive woes. We seem to have nailed it in attack now as we have done for three games in a row, but defensively, we are woeful. Nuno needed those defensive reinforcements to help improve us, and barring a last-minute panic loan, he’s received no backing.
We’ve managed to find a minimal amount of form in the recent games, and if we had secured a result against Chelsea, I’m certain the situation would’ve appeared as much brighter. If we are able to iron out these creases and defensive blunders that we appear to keep having, I’m certain that we will be okay, but that is certainly a humungous ‘IF’.
Many games to go, many points to pick up. The Hammers will certainly have to utilise Taty and Pablo and perhaps take some inspiration from the phrase ‘The best form of defence is attack’.