West Ham transfer news

WEST HAM’S new era is yet to take off.After bringing in Julen Lopetegui and backing him with £127.5million in summer signings – there was every right to expect more than this.West Ham have struggled since Julen Lopetegui’s arrivalCredit: PAThe Hammers are 14th in the tableCredit: GettyThe Hammers are 14th, could be overtaken by Everton with another defeat this weekend and have shown few signs of improving.There are mixed messages over Lopetegui’s future. West Ham’s owners have never been trigger-happy when it comes to dismissing managers and do not like admitting they were wrong.But fans have not warmed to the new regime and even the most patient of clubs would be tested if this continues.SunSport runs through how it has all gone so wrong…READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDEFENSIVE ISSUESWest Ham’s biggest problem last season was their leaky defence, conceding a club-record 74 Premier League goals under David Moyes.Money was spent to try and fix the problem. Max Kilman arrived from Wolves for £40m, Aaron Wan-Bissaka joined in a £15m deal from Manchester United before Jean-Clair Todibo was signed on loan with a view to a £35m deal next summer.All are individually good players, but they have struggled to gel so far while Wan-Bissaka has been used in a variety of positions.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe Hammers have shipped 19 goals in 10 Premier League games, the same as odds-on relegation favourites Southampton.Conceding at this rate they will end the season having let in 72 – hardly the improvement expected after significant investment.Who is Julen Lopetegui?STODGY MIDFIELDThe problems at the back do not lie solely with the defenders.West Ham possess one of the most immobile midfields in the Premier League. When not suspended or injured, Edson Alvarez struggles to keep up with play.Tomas Soucek has been a fine servant for the club but should have been improved upon some time ago. The likes of Edson Alvarez have failed to properly cover the midfieldCredit: GettyThe Czech is a brilliant squad option but is too limited a footballer to be a regular success.Guido Rodriguez, a free signing from Spanish side Real Betis, has made little positive impact – mistakes being his most memorable moments.And with each minute Carlos Soler plays, it becomes harder to work out why so much late effort was put into shifting James Ward-Prowse to Nottingham Forest just to bring him in.The lack of dynamism and legs in the middle is making it easy for teams to bypass and charge straight at an unprotected back four.POOR SIGNINGSTim Steidten, who won the power struggle with Moyes over the summer, was given almost ultimate power in the transfer window.Lopetegui was not exclusively his pick, but many of the players were.Rodriguez is probably the most baffling, but others raise big questions too.Niclas Fullkrug appears to be the latest in the line of failed West Ham strikers. Tim Steidten paid £127.5m for players this summerCredit: PAIt may seem harsh given he has been limited to just an hour of Premier League play due to injury so far – but it was hardly an inspirational signing.The German arrived, for £27.5m, the wrong side of 30 and with a detailed injury record leaving another manager to rely on Michail Antonio and Danny Ings through the middle.A bungled attempt to sign Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran, who has eight goals in 16 appearances this season, only makes it look worse.Areas clearly lacking were never properly addressed.LACK OF LEADERSHIP & DISCIPLINENot all of this can be put at the door of the manager or higher-ups.Players are the ones tasked with going out and putting in a shift each weekend and few have done that in a West Ham shirt this season.Mohammed Kudus and Alvarez are both suspended this weekend – the Mexican after his second red card of the season.There is a lack of a strong mentality and clear leadership within the squad.Sources say the dressing room has become a quiet one in the absence of Declan Rice’s leadership or Mark Noble before him.Lucas Paqueta has looked disinterested for most of the yearCredit: GettyAntonio is a loud character but not when it comes to leadership, while new captain Jarrod Bowen prefers to do his talking on the pitch.Perhaps the biggest problem is Lucas Paqueta. The Brazilian, awaiting a hearing for his spot-fixing charges, has looked disinterested for most of the year.It is understandable given his situation, but West Ham are still paying his wages and expect someone who was recently valued at £85m to be delivering far more.Coaches have noticed a collective lack of mentality amongst the squad, something which must be addressed.NO STYLE OR INSPIRATIONThe end of the Moyes era was largely brought about due to a desire for fans to see a far more attractive style of play.Lopetegui was never seen as a total football appointment, but players and fans alike have struggled to identify a clear plan of attack from the Spaniard.They are not sitting tight and counter-attacking nor going for expansive, dominant football. West Ham have lacked a clear style since the departure of David MoyesCredit: ReutersThe muddle leads to inconsistent performances and a reliance on individual brilliance – which has been in short supply.Lopetegui is struggling to get the best out of Bowen and – when he’s not suspended for lashing out at Tottenham players – Kudus.The manager’s deadpan approach in front of the media does not help either. The lack of spark means fans are struggling to warm to the former Wolves boss.HOW LONG HAS HE GOTThis will be the question on many fans’ lips. A heavy defeat to Everton on Saturday and it could be that Lopetegui struggles to see out the weekend.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut there is an insistence that the board remain behind their man, though all remain frustrated by the poor performances.There is a feeling they have not reached the lows of the second half of last season, but get any closer to it and a change will more than likely be made.West Ham have worst stadium in Premier LeagueBy Andy DillonAll that has been achieved under David Moyes has made West Ham forget that they have by far the worst home ground in the entire Prem.A stadium totally unfit for staging regular football matches.One that can work on big European nights when the fans have electrified their voices in the nearby Carpenters Arms before kick-off.But one which drains your soul during routine home games against the likes of Burnley or Everton.A home ground where giant trampolines separate fans from the action.With temporary seating and scaffolding trying to bring the players and crowd closer.When West Ham are playing badly but winning, issues with the rented stadium are pushed aside.If they are playing badly and losing, the whole festering sore surfaces and the frustration will be aimed once more at chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady.It wasn’t long ago that fans were invading the pitch, that 8,000 protested against the owners, that Sullivan was hit in the eye by a coin thrown from the crowd. Moyes has been an effective human shield with his consistent, if not entirely pretty, brand of success.This is what incoming boss Lopetegui has to contend with.Read Andy Dillon’s full column here. More

WEST HAM want to sign Botafogo’s brilliant Brazilian striker Igor Jesus in a surprise £30million raid.And that could spark a shock swap deal that would see Lucas Paqueta return to his homeland.Igor Jesus is being lined up by West HamCredit: APLucas Paqueta could move in the other direction to make a deal happenCredit: ReutersJesus has been scoring in Brazil since his return from a near four-year spell in the United Arab Emirates.He only joined Rio de Janeiro club Botafogo earlier this year, but they will trade at the right price.Jesus, 23, has just made the Brazil senior squad for the first time.Botafogo owner John Textor was keen to move him to Everton if he had won the takeover battle for the Merseysiders.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLNow the Hammers are eager to sign Jesus as they look to add extra flair to their forward line — and they could try for him in January.However, Textor is a huge fan of the mercurial Paqueta, who saw a move to Manchester City collapse after the story of a betting probe emerged.He protests his innocence, but any club signing him would take the risk of possible future action – especially with the FA pushing for a LIFETIME BAN.But Botafogo would take Paqueta and try to come to an arrangement with West Ham.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSWest Ham splashed out on German international Niclas Fullkrug in the summer transfer window.The striker joined the club after an impressive campaign with Borussia Dortmund and Germany.Aina shows off his left foot declaring, ‘It’s still hot!!!’However, the forward is yet to impress at the London Stadium as he has failed to score in any of his three Premier League appearances.To make matters worse he has been on the sidelines since the last international break with injury.This had left under-pressure manager Julen Lopetegui to rely on Michail Antonio and Danny Ings.The club had multiple offers turned down for Aston Villa star Jhon Duran.The striker has netted eight goals in all competitions this season, including two in the Champions League.The FOUR games Paqueta has been charged forLUCAS PAQUETA has been charged by the FA over four specific games…FIRST INCIDENT – West Ham 0-2 Leicester, 60th minuteThe Brazilian was booked for lunging into Leicester’s Boubakary Soumare from behind.After initially playing the advantage, referee Jarred Gillett eventually pulled it back and brandished the yellow.SECOND INCIDENT – West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa, 70th minute Four months later against Aston Villa Paqueta slid into John McGinn inside the centre circle, completely missing the ball and instead catching his legs.THIRD INCIDENT – West Ham 3-1 Leeds, 65th minuteAt the end of the 2022-23 campaign against Leeds at the London Stadium Paqueta tripped Crysencio Summerville from behind.The foul prevented the visitors from breaking on the counter attack.FOURTH INCIDENT – Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham, 93rd minuteWith just a few minutes remaining on the opening day of the season, Paqueta jumped up for an aerial challenge but instead handled the ball.The referee, who was standing directly in front of him, was quick to brandish the yellow. More

NOTTINGHAM Forest are partying like it’s 1998-1999 – as West Ham lost their way more ways than one.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side recorded a third successive victory – all of them coming with the suspended Forest manager sitting in the stands.Chris Wood was on target for his eighth goal of the Premier League campaignCredit: AlamyEdson Alvarez was sent off in the first half for two yellow cardsCredit: GettyCallum Hudson-Odoi made it 2-0 with a curling effortCredit: GettyThe victory has lifted Nottingham Forest to third in the Premier LeagueCredit: PAMaybe he should stay there even though his ban is now officially completedThis victory took Forest to third place in the Premier League table – the first time they had reached those lofty heights in 26 years when Dave Bassett was in charge at the City Ground in August 1998.But this was a statement victory that leaves Forest six points behind leaders Liverpool.Chris Wood found the net yet again – and the Kiwi striker has now scored eight goals this season.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLHe has also netted in his last four league games – as well as scoring for New Zealand in the international break.But West Ham only have themselves to blame for this after Edson Alvarez was sent off for bringing down Anthony Elanga.It was his second yellow after being cautioned for pulling back Forest defender Murillo.But bizarrely, Alvarez seemed to lose his way, as well as his head.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe walked straight past the tunnel and headed on towards the Trent End before an official told had to tell him to turn back.Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui must surely be doubly frustrated at Alvarez’s dismissal, considering he did exactly the same thing in the Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool six weeks ago. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this’ – Boss pushes Marcelo back to bench after Brazil legend REFUSES his pre-sub tacticsThe Mexican’s record now reads, five yellows and two reds in seven games.It could have been worse as Guido Rodriguez was lucky not to be red-carded after going through the back of Morgan Gibbs-White just outside the penalty area after 18 minutes.He was subbed at half-time as a precaution.But Forest were on fire and they made the most of playing against ten men after the break.Wood headed Forest into the lead after 28 minutes when he converted an Alex Moreno cross.But he summed up the team ethic of Nuno’s squad by clearing off the line from Lucas Paqueta just before the break.Callum Hudson-Odoi stepped up on the hour to score Forest’s second.Elliott Anderson made an immediate impact as a sub on the hour, winning a free-kick and using it to set up Hudson-Odoi, whose shot took a deflection off Konstantinos Mavropanos’ head before finding the top corner.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt was exhibition stuff from Forest – and Ola Aina scored his first goal of the season with a spectacular left-foot drive from 25 yards. Skipper Ryan Yates then had a goal ruled out by VARBut Forest almost grabbed a fourth with the last kick of the game as sub-Ramon Sosa brought a flying save from Lukasz Fabianski.Ola Aina scored a fantastic third for the hostsCredit: GettyThe result had the home side supporters in huge celebrationCredit: PAPressure is mounting on Julen LopeteguiCredit: Getty More