Category: West Ham

Callum Wilson scored a dramatic late winner against Tottenham on Saturday, despite his exit looking more likely by the day in January.
West Ham beat Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, with Wilson coming off the bench and securing all three points for the Hammers, smashing home from close range in the 93rd minute.
Crysencio Summerville put Nuno Espirito Santo’s side into an early lead, but Cristian Romero levelled the contest midway through the second half.
Wilson ensured the Hammers picked up their first Premier League win in 11 games with his late goal, but the Englishman may still be packing his bags.
Callum Wilson linked with Premier League club

Wilson still looks certain to leave West Ham after reportedly being informed that he is not in Nuno’s plans for the second half of the season.
Hammers fans have been calling on the Portuguese manager to block the former Newcastle United man’s exit, though, after he proved his quality yet again with a last-gasp winner at Tottenham.However, The Mail on Sunday has reported in its print edition that Wilson is still expected to hold talks with Saudi Pro League outfit Al Shabab, as he looks for a move away from the London Stadium.
Everton also hold an interest in the 33-year-old, with his exit set to become clearer within days.
Nuno Espirito Santo is making an awful mistake

West Ham have signed both Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe in the first two weeks of the January window, which has left Wilson down the pecking order.
Nuno has clearly been looking to offload the veteran striker since he came in at the London Stadium, but that has not stopped him from scoring goals.
Wilson has found the back of the net five times in the Premier League so far this season, despite only playing 811 minutes in total.
The former England international has scored a goal every 162 top-flight minutes he’s played since joining West Ham in the summer, a decent record for a team in the relegation zone.
Nuno is quite literally throwing away the Hammers’ chances of Premier League survival by letting Wilson leave, and must prevent his exit to give the East London side the best chance of avoiding the drop.

West Ham United are edging closer to their first major move of the January transfer window after holding positive talks with Inter Milan over a high-profile 26-year-old star. Sources close to the negotiations indicate discussions have accelerated in recent days, with the Premier League side now preparing for a potential medical scheduled for Friday.

West Ham are understood to have been informed of Inter’s asking price, believed to be around £32 million, as the club looks to make a clear statement of intent in the second half of the season. Officials at the London Stadium have been working behind the scenes to push the deal forward quickly, keen to complete business early in the window and fend off interest from rival clubs.

The Inter midfielder is viewed internally as a player capable of delivering immediate impact. At 26, he is considered to be entering his prime, bringing valuable Champions League and international experience. West Ham’s recruitment team believe his energy, versatility and composure would fit seamlessly into Julen Lopetegui’s system as the club battles to secure its Premier League status.

West Ham head into Saturday’s daunting clash with league leaders Arsenal under pressure, desperate to halt a worrying run of form that has dragged them into relegation trouble. Lopetegui’s side have endured a torrid spell, compounded by a humiliating FA Cup exit on penalties to Championship side Wrexham.

Although West Ham snapped a four-game losing streak in the league with a dramatic 2-1 victory away at West Ham, they have still lost five of their last six matches in all competitions, underlining the scale of the challenge facing the manager.

According to reports from Sky Sports Italy, via FC Inter News, West Ham are actively pursuing Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi. Talks have reportedly taken place with the player’s representatives, with the Hammers expressing genuine interest in bringing the Italy international to the Premier League.

The Italian broadcaster claims discussions with Frattesi’s camp have confirmed West Ham’s eagerness to strengthen their midfield options as they fight against the drop. While the move remains possible this month, Inter’s stance is firm.

The Serie A champions continue to value Frattesi at around £32 million, a fee that could prove challenging for West Ham given their current league position and financial considerations. The midfielder has found regular minutes hard to come by at the San Siro this season, with opportunities limited under head coach Cristian Chivu.

As talks continue, optimism remains that progress can be made. A successful deal would represent a significant boost for Lopetegui and underline West Ham United’s ambition as the January window reaches a critical stage.

Supporters at the London Stadium have reached boiling point. West Ham United’s dreadful start to the 2025-26 Premier League season — now extended to ten games without a win — has unleashed a torrent of frustration among the club’s fanbase. Yet despite the mounting pressure, growing condemnation from pundits, protests from supporters, and even offers from former managers eager to step in, an insider at the club has revealed that Nuno Espirito Santo will remain in charge… at least for now.

A Downward Spiral: From Hope to Despair
When Nuno was appointed in September 2025 — taking over from Graham Potter — there was a flicker of optimism. The Portuguese coach brought pedigree and experience, and in past seasons had led Nottingham Forest into European competition. But what has unfolded at West Ham is best described as a sporting tragedy. After picking up only two wins from his opening 16 games, West Ham have now gone ten matches without tasting victory.

The most recent loss, a 2-1 defeat to fellow relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, encapsulated the misery. Despite taking the lead, West Ham collapsed late on and conceded a controversial penalty, a decision midfielder Tomas Soucek publicly branded “a joke” after the final whistle. The defeat leaves the Hammers rooted in 18th place and seven points from safety.

It’s not just the results that have fans irate — it’s the manner of them. Defensive frailties, poor decision-making in crucial moments, and a paucity of chances have marked West Ham’s decline. The performance against Wolves — described by Nuno himself as the “worst day” of his managerial career — saw the Hammers lose 3-0 to a club that had barely won all season.

Fan Fury: Protests, Chants, and Public Outrage
Across the terraces, anger has spilled into full view. Banners and chants demanding change have become commonplace, and sections of the West Ham support are openly questioning the club’s direction. Photos from recent home matches show disgruntled supporters holding signs that blend frustration with sarcasm — a stark visual of fan exasperation.
Analysts and former players have also weighed in. Some pundits argue that Nuno’s tactical approach has grown stale, pointing to confusing team selections and formation inconsistencies that have left the squad without identity or cohesion. You don’t need to scroll far on fan forums to find commenters declaring that the team “has lost its soul” and that relegation is becoming an unwelcome possibility.

In a surreal twist, former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp offered to return to the club for free if it would help avert disaster — an offer that underlines just how desperate the current situation feels to those intimately connected with the club’s history.

Why He’s Still Here: The Insider Perspective
Amid all this turmoil, an insider revelation has broken through the fury: Nuno Espirito Santo isn’t being dismissed… yet. According to club sources, West Ham’s hierarchy has decided to stick with Nuno for now, citing both financial constraints and the chaos that rapid managerial turnover has already inflicted over the past year.

This isn’t coming from optimism so much as caution. The board is acutely aware that West Ham has already gone through a series of coaching changes in recent seasons. Between the long tenure of David Moyes, brief stints by Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter, and now Nuno, the club has struggled to build continuity. A change every few months has cost stability both on and off the pitch.

Financial factors also play a significant role. Terminating Nuno’s contract now would involve a costly payout, and recruiting a proven top-flight manager in the middle of a relegation battle is no guarantee of improved fortunes. Internally, the club fears compounding problems rather than resolving them — a perspective that, frustratingly for fans, prioritizes long-term structural considerations over instant reactions to form.

Boardroom Dynamics: More Than Just Results
There are deeper strategic calculations at play behind the scenes. West Ham’s executive leadership appears to believe that stability — even in sub-optimal circumstances — may yield better outcomes than another knee-jerk managerial switch. The turnover of bosses has already undermined progress; homegrown tactics, recruitment strategy, and player development have all suffered as a result.
At the same time, there are reports that alternative candidates are being considered should results not improve — indicating that confidence in Nuno is fragile, not absolute. Names like Slaven Bilic have been linked as potential interim options, hinting that the club does have contingency plans in motion.

Thus, rather than a full endorsement of Nuno’s methods, the decision to retain him reflects hesitation and pragmatism from the board — a choice that infuriates supporters but aligns with a fear of destabilizing an already fractured club.
What Happens Next: Survival or Sacking?
So where does this leave West Ham United — and Nuno’s job security?
First, the league table speaks for itself: West Ham are deep in relegation trouble, seven points off safety with nearly half the season played. Surviving the drop would require a dramatic turnaround — something that, until now, has eluded the team.

For Nuno, time is running out. Although the board has publicly supported him for now, insiders suggest that his position will be reviewed after a small run of games, particularly against fellow relegation rivals. A win in one of those fixtures could buy him an extension of faith; another defeat might trigger a change. Many pundits have explicitly stated that the next few matches are must-wins if he hopes to keep his job.

Second, fan pressure isn’t diminishing. Protests, chants, and critical social commentary are growing louder; supporters who once cheered Nuno’s arrival are now openly demanding his exit.
Conclusion: A Club at a Crossroads
West Ham United’s current crisis is emblematic of a broader struggle: balancing patience and pragmatism with fan passion and urgency. The decision to retain Nuno Espirito Santo amid a ten-match winless streak is controversial, but it reflects a board wary of perpetual instability and the financial fallout of constant managerial turnover.
For the supporters, this reprieve will feel like thin gruel — a shock to the system that tests loyalty on matchday after matchday. For the club hierarchy, it’s a calculated gamble that continuity is better than chaos.
What happens next — survival, relegation, or a late-season managerial change — remains one of the Premier League’s most compelling storylines. But one thing is certain: West Ham’s season, and Nuno’s future, hang by a very slender thread.

West Ham United’s battle for Premier League survival took a dramatic and controversial turn as VAR decisions dominated the aftermath of their damaging defeat to Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium.

A match already loaded with relegation pressure was overshadowed by two major VAR interventions, both of which went in Forest’s favour and left West Ham players, staff, and supporters furious. As boos echoed around the stadium at full-time, the sense among Hammers fans was clear: this was a result shaped as much by technology as by football.

The first flashpoint came when West Ham were denied what many believed was a legitimate penalty, a decision that sparked immediate outrage in the stands. Replays appeared to show clear contact, yet VAR ruled no clear and obvious error, allowing play to continue. Moments later, Forest capitalised—turning frustration into punishment.

Tempers flared further following a second contentious decision involving a potential foul in the build-up to Forest’s decisive moment. Again, VAR reviewed the incident and again sided against West Ham, deepening the feeling of injustice among the home support.

With West Ham now drifting dangerously close to the relegation zone, the Premier League was forced to issue a public explanation, confirming that VAR officials believed the on-field decisions met the threshold required by protocol. That explanation did little to calm anger, with fans branding the outcome “unacceptable” and “damaging” at such a critical stage of the season.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, walked away with three invaluable points that could prove decisive in their own survival push—though even some neutral observers admitted the controversy overshadowed their performance.

For West Ham, the consequences are severe. Confidence is shaken, pressure is mounting, and questions are being asked not just of players and management, but of the system itself. With every point now crucial, the feeling among supporters is that VAR may have played a decisive role in their relegation fight.

As the Premier League season reaches its most unforgiving phase, one thing is certain: this match will be remembered not for the football, but for the decisions that left an entire fanbase stunned—and fearing the worst.

In what was already shaping up to be one of the most dramatic relegation battles of the Premier League season, one controversial decision in the final moments of West Ham vs Nottingham Forest didn’t just determine three points — it now threatens to reshape the narrative around referee intervention, VAR interpretation, and Alphonse Areola’s precarious standing at the London Stadium.

A High-Stakes Clash in the Relegation Scrap
On Tuesday night, West Ham United hosted Nottingham Forest in a crucial relegation six-pointer. West Ham took an early advantage courtesy of a 13th-minute own goal from Murillo, only for Forest to fight back through a 55th-minute header by Nicolás Domínguez. With the score level deep into the final stages, tension rippled through the stadium — only for a moment of drama to completely alter the outcome.

The Incident: Areola, Gibbs-White, and VAR’s Final Word
In the 89th minute, Forest forward Morgan Gibbs-White found himself tangled with West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola as the latter attempted to punch clear a dangerous ball into the box. On first glance, and even on initial television replays, the collision looked minimal, with defenders and attackers clustered tightly and bodies moving in close proximity.

But then came the pivotal moment: VAR intervened, prompting referee Tony Harrington to review the incident at the pitchside monitor. After a lengthy check, a penalty was awarded to Nottingham Forest — a decision that Morgan Gibbs-White duly converted to complete Forest’s comeback.

Why the New Angle Changes Everything
Here’s where things get controversial.
1. Reexamination of Contact Severity
A fresh angle circulating online — drawn from fan uploads and detailed frame analyses — shows Areola’s punch may have contacted Gibbs-White earlier than recognised by the on-field referee, but not with the force typically associated with a foul. Critics argue that minimal shoulder and arm contact should not meet the threshold for a direct free-kick offence according to Law 12 of the game, suggesting the VAR decision leaned on technicality rather than clear and obvious error.

2. Areola’s Positioning Has Been Misread
Most broadcast angles showed Areola in mid-air with his arm extended — a moment that looked reckless. But the new viewpoint reveals that Gibbs-White was already committed to the header, with his own momentum carrying him into Areola’s arm. This nuance, often missed in live coverage, may explain why some pundits now claim the penalty should not have stood. Observers argue that the on-field referee may have conflated aerial collision with contact deserving a spot kick.

3. VAR’s Controversial Role Resurfaces a Larger Issue
The decision reignites the ongoing debate over VAR thresholds: should 50-50 aerial challenges where contact is incidental be subject to reversal, or should VAR intervene only where there is clear and obvious error? This argument mirrors other high-profile VAR controversies across football where technological checks have overruled on-field calls despite ambiguous contact.

Tactical and Psychological Ripples Across Both Squads
The penalty not only handed Forest all three points — a 2-1 victory that takes them seven points clear of the drop — but also deepened West Ham’s struggles. After an already extended winless run in the league, this late twist compounded frustrations for manager Nuno Espírito Santo and his squad.

From Forest’s perspective, the goal was nothing short of a lifeline — a dramatic twist that keeps their survival hopes alive. For West Ham, the controversy surrounding Areola’s involvement now overshadows what had been a competitive performance.

Fan Reactions: Split Down the Middle
Social media has erupted in the aftermath:
Forest supporters see a justified intervention that corrects what the replays clearly show — significant contact warranting a penalty.
West Ham fans and neutral analysts argue that the new angle actually lessens the perceived contact, suggesting VAR penalised a goalkeeper making a genuine attempt to claim the ball.
Pundits now question whether VAR’s influence in such tight aerial duels does more harm than good, muddying what should be a straightforward interpretation of Law 12.
Conclusion: A Penalty That Could Have Broader Repercussions
What started as a pivotal relegation fixture has escalated into a flashpoint in the broader VAR debate. The emerging angle on the Areola incident doesn’t just reignite old arguments — it forces football’s authorities and fans alike to scrutinise how and when technology should shape match-deciding moments.
With West Ham’s season now at an inflection point and Areola at the centre of dissected footage from multiple angles, this decision will be debated, analysed, and referenced in VAR discussions for weeks — if not months — to come.

Wolves away. Nottingham Forest at home. West Ham’s Premier League survival could well rest on their next two games.

Nuno Espirito Santo admits he still takes defeats as badly as he did when he first started following West Ham’s eight game winless run.

The 51-year-old’s side have lost seven of the 14 matches they have played since he took charge, winning just two, to leave them languishing in the bottom three.

“No, we don’t deal with bad results well. It’s impossible to deal with. It’s painful,” he said.
“Believe me, when you don’t win and you go on a (bad) run, you feel that it’s there to take and it’s hard on everybody. Especially on who has the responsibility, because we are in a big club and it requires better from us.”

Nuno began his career in England more than eight years ago with Saturday’s opponents, Wolves, which is followed by another six-pointer against the club he left in September, 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
“Every game is important,” he added. “We’re going to start the second half of the season. All of the teams that are around are direct opponents.
“It’s huge. It’s going to be a quick turnaround. We have to assess properly the options that we have, which are not too many, so we can compete on both of them properly.”
Wolves boss Rob Edwards is not concerned about the form or future of Jorgen Strand Larsen despite speculation surrounding the striker.
Strand Larsen continues to be linked with a move away from the club, but Edwards says he is not concerned the speculation will affect the player.
“His attitude has been brilliant. He is working extremely hard and there is no concerns about that.
“Because of the position we’re in, we have some good players so there is going to be speculation about them, not just him. I am not concerned about it because the attitude is good.”
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Nuno confirms that his most in-form centre-half is a doubt thanks to a groin strain which forced him off just before the interval in that 2-2 draw with Brighton.

“We are assessing now,” Nuno said. “What [Todibo] said was that it was the groin, that he started feeling tight, he was not able to run and there was a lot of sprints going back in this space.
Of course, Nuno does still have Igor Julio at his disposal, as well as teenager Ezra Mayers. Given that the duo have played less than 150 minutes of Premier League football between them this season, though, the expectation is that Nuno will persist with Kilman should Todibo fail to pass a late fitness test.

“They are tough, every game in the Premier League is tough so we expect at Molineux a very tough game,” adds Nuno, who famously took Wolves into the Europa League quarter-finals during far happier times in the Black Country.

“Both teams in need like us and Wolves and when we have the need we have to do whatever we can to achieve it. Our job here at West Ham takes so much out of us that honestly it seems like there’s nothing else around. There’s nothing else, it doesn’t exist, anything.

“What I want is to perform, compete and make this point [against Brighton] really valuable. If we achieve a good win there, a good performance, this is what we’re going to prepare.”

West Ham United sent shockwaves through the football world after the club’s official website was overwhelmed moments after head coach Nuno Espírito Santo confirmed the arrival of four unexpected signings in a dramatic statement that no one saw coming.

Supporters rushing online to understand the sudden announcement caused temporary outages, with thousands of fans flooding social media in disbelief as the news spread at lightning speed. Many admitted they initially thought the announcement was a mistake — until the club doubled down with official confirmation.

Speaking in a carefully worded but explosive statement, Nuno made it clear that the club’s ambition has shifted gears.

“These signings reflect where we want to go as a club,” Nuno said. “We are building something stronger, more competitive, and ready to challenge.”

What stunned supporters most was not just the number of signings, but the profile of the players involved. At least two of the names had not been linked with West Ham in any recent transfer reports, leaving fans and pundits scrambling to piece together how the deals were completed so quietly.

The announcement immediately sparked debate among supporters. While many praised the club’s ambition and secrecy in the transfer market, others questioned how the new arrivals would fit into Nuno’s system and whether more changes are still to come.

Football insiders suggest the signings signal a major shift in West Ham’s recruitment strategy, with the club clearly backing Nuno’s vision ahead of the second half of the season. There is also growing belief that further movement could still happen before the transfer window closes.

As the dust settles, one thing is certain: West Ham have made a statement, and the rest of the league is paying attention.

Fans may not believe it yet — but West Ham’s intentions are now impossible to ignore.