Winter '25/26 Transfer Rumours Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Well seems like with all these international breaks, and us languishing, the rumours of ins and outs are rife.

Chuck anything 'worthy' of discussion on this thread...

--------------

Incomings:

Pablo Felipe - €21m + €3m (Gil Vicente) | Forward
Valentin 'Taty' Castellanos - €26m + €4m (Lazio) | Forward
Adama Traore - £2m + £1m if stay up (Fulham) | Forward
Axel Disasi - Loan (Chelsea) | Centre Back
Keiber Lamadrid - £150k + £1m option | Attacking Mid

Outgoings:

Nicolas Füllkrug - 6 months loan (AC Milan)
Luis Guilherme - £17m + Sell On % (Sporting Lisbon)
George Earthy - 6 months loan (Bristol City)
Callum Marshall - 6 months loan (Bochum)
Andy Irving - 1.5m (Sparta Prague)
Guido Rodriguez - Undisclosed (Valencia)
Igor Julio - Loan Cancelled (Brighton)
James Ward Prowse - 6 months loan (Burnley)
Lucas Paqueta - £36.5m + Buy Back Clause (Flamengo)

[Westside]

"Sullivan ain't putting money into saving our Premiership status."

How many more times. The monies Sullivan  (or anybody else) can put in to the club are very limited and constrained by PSR.

I'd settle for no money from him and for him to sell up.

 

[El Scorchio]

Sullivan can walk away from us tonight. And still come away in the money from owning us. These past 15 years. He ain't willing to pump more money into us.(Just to be here again next year.And so on.) Sure we are going to hear a lot of lip service over the next few weeks. Few outs. (Possibly a big name.?)A few in. A future prospect punt. And a PR line pumped out by The Usual Suspects. "Look it ain't us. We are at least putting some money in.! Best blame it on the body in the Dug Out.!" And we will limp on until confirmation of relegation .Sometime in early Spring. Where's it will be announced. The entire SPIV clan are selling out. To some Dude Bro Yank Hedge fund. Who already has in place a deal for the OS.? Either Way. 
Sullivan ain't putting money into saving our Premiership status. Because we are being Primed For The Drop.!

COYI.

Nah, his greed is too great for him to accept anything less than top dollar. He's not selling if we go down. He's not going to settle for (for example- I'm not trying to put accurate numbers here) 500 million if in the premier league he could get 750 million. He will fork out because we're in dire straits (of his own making) in order to take more. I'd bet all he's waiting for is to get his own hands on the stadium to make even more dough, then he's not going to be seen for dust. I don't believe we're being 'primed for the drop' at all. That's just silly. Our situation is not by design, it's by incompetence.

[onsideman]

Just overheard some transfer chat on Talksport with some European specialist of some nature. He reckons Promise David to West Ham won't happen as he's destined for a bigger club. That's a mark of our standing in the eyes of the footballing world

[Sweep]

Bit wary of any site that claims this

The Hammers recruiters sees Nnadi as the exact type of energetic, ball-winning midfielder Graham Potter’s side desperately lacks, 

[Iron Duke]

Mark Noble has been in Belgium trying to complete a deal for Nigerian Enforcer Tochukwu Nnadi

Apparently a fee of just 3.5 million has been agreed now with Belgium club SV Zulte Waregem and the player will sign a 5 year contract in January with the hammers

[RBshorty]

Sullivan can walk away from us tonight. And still come away in the money from owning us. These past 15 years. He ain't willing to pump more money into us.(Just to be here again next year.And so on.) Sure we are going to hear a lot of lip service over the next few weeks. Few outs. (Possibly a big name.?)A few in. A future prospect punt. And a PR line pumped out by The Usual Suspects. "Look it ain't us. We are at least putting some money in.! Best blame it on the body in the Dug Out.!" And we will limp on until confirmation of relegation .Sometime in early Spring. Where's it will be announced. The entire SPIV clan are selling out. To some Dude Bro Yank Hedge fund. Who already has in place a deal for the OS.? Either Way. 
Sullivan ain't putting money into saving our Premiership status. Because we are being Primed For The Drop.!

COYI.

[El Scorchio]

Sullivan doesn't care about West Ham. He care's about his money. And how he can make more  of it. Without spending any of it.

"Primed For The Drop.!"

Well in that case I’d suggest he does what he can to keep us up because getting relegated will cost him a fuck of a lot more. 

[RBshorty]

Sullivan doesn't care about West Ham. He care's about his money. And how he can make more  of it. Without spending any of it.

"Primed For The Drop.!"

[El Scorchio]

With Sullivan in charge, he'll hedge his bets like he always does in this situation.

Maybe the odd highly rated championship player as insurance if we drop (think Bowen in 2020) alongside some experienced players who are available
 

And that is what will cost us our premier league status. If he doesn’t fully listen to Nuno and give him the players he needs and goes into business for himself as usual, we will be gone. 

[Westham67]

Gimenez from AC with the German going in the other direction. Another Chris Wood, apparently 

[Massive Attack]

I see Paquetas old Club Flamengo have just won the Brazilian Championship and Libertadores double. Linked in the past and should have a few coins in the coffers..

[Alan]

“West Ham are set to sign England youth international Frankie Day from rivals Spurs,” said Ex, via West Ham Way.“The deal is currently going through the Premier League five-step process before it can be completed.“Frankie is a prolific forward who has scored many goals at his age group and whilst playing up in years above. This is considered a bit of a coup for the club with Mark Noble being very much behind the deal.”As West Ham wait for the formalities to be completed, it will be very interesting to see what the future holds for Day in east London.The Irons have been more focused on youthful recruitment these past few seasons, as evident by their recent signings of Mohamadou Kante, Mateus Fernandes and Magassa.Their academy sides have shown great promise as well, with West Ham's Under-23s completing a league and cup double in 2023 whilst finishing that campaign with 26 wins out of a possible 30 in all competitions.Day could be at the perfect place to further his development, and there's no doubt Noble will have emphasised that in talks with the teenager.   

 

[Sweep]

With Sullivan in charge, he'll hedge his bets like he always does in this situation.

Maybe the odd highly rated championship player as insurance if we drop (think Bowen in 2020) alongside some experienced players who are available but unwanted elsewhere who can be signed on loans/frees/minimal fees with options if we stay up (Ings, Wayne Bridge, Robbie Keane).

The manager supposedly wants two forwards especially including a fast direct winger. 

With that in mind expect Adama Traore and Raheem Sterling.

[Tomshardware]

Kevin has impressed me at Fulham ,so has that Chukwueze who's on loan from Ac Milan. 

[Massive Attack]

Post Cup win we really have managed to royally fuck up the golden opportunity to spend some serious dough on new quality signings of epic proportions. All that Rice and European money spaffed up against the wall that would make even Boris Johnson blush. It only took 2 years to achieve it as well. Like kids in a fucking sweet shop. Fuck I hate Sullivan.

[Alan]

The Athletic

West Ham Transfer Deal Sheet: What to expect in 2026


Charlie Cresswell, left, is wanted by West Ham but Niclas Fullkrug could be set to depart Getty Images

By Roshane Thomas

The January transfer window is set to be the most important month in West Ham United’s recent history.

Following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are level on points (11) with 18th-placed Leeds United but outside the relegation zone on goal difference. West Ham have lost four of the eight league games Nuno has overseen, winning two and drawing two. Their precarious position is unlikely to improve massively any time soon, given a run of games against Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Manchester City before Christmas.

So who are West Ham targeting in January and beyond? Will they have money to spend? Who could be sold? Sources who have spoken on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships have offered insight into what to expect.
Who will make key decisions in January and the summer?

There are a number of signings former technical director Tim Steidten, who left his role in February, presided over, including: Niclas Fullkrug, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Mohammed Kudus, Jean-Clair Todibo, Luis Guilherme, Maximilian Kilman and Crysencio Summerville. Fullkrug is injury-prone, Todibo, Mavropanos and Kilman are inconsistent, Guilherme is an unproven young prospect, while Summerville has shown glimpses of his quality.

Although Steidten’s track record in transfers flattered to deceive, his best signing was Maximilian Hahn. The German joined as head of technical recruitment and analysis from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2023. Hahn’s influence has grown behind the scenes and he is considered one of the senior scouts at West Ham. He played a role in the scouting of El Hadji Malick Diouf before his £19million ($25m) arrival from Slavia Prague in July. Hahn will provide detailed reports for Nuno, who will make the key decisions over incomings with majority shareholder David Sullivan.
Are there any players they are already looking at?

West Ham are keen to augment their defensive and forward options. One particular player they have strong interest in signing is Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell. On deadline day in the summer, the French side rejected their offer of a £4m loan fee with an obligation based on appearances for the 23-year-old. Toulouse wanted €20m (£17.6m, $23.2m) plus bonus, which forced West Ham to alter their plans by signing Igor Julio on a season-long loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion. The centre-back, signed by the since-sacked Graham Potter, has played only 103 minutes under Nuno.

Since the closure of the summer window, and according to sources with knowledge of the deal, Toulouse’s valuation of Cresswell has increased to €25m. But this has not deterred West Ham’s scouts from continuing to monitor his development. The defender, who has other interest from European clubs, was not downhearted that a switch to West Ham fell through in the summer. He remains happy at Toulouse but is aware a return to the Premier League will boost his chances of earning a senior England call-up. The centre-back amassed 26 caps for the U21s and was part of the side that won the European Under-21 Championship in June.

Cresswell, the ex-Leeds United defender who had a loan spell at Millwall in 2022-23, harbours hopes of playing for Thomas Tuchel’s senior England team, and believes his next switch will make him better suited to fulfilling that target.
Who will they be looking to sell?

Barring captain Jarrod Bowen, West Ham’s squad lacks high-value assets. Once upon a time Lucas Paqueta’s valuation was in the region of £80m but his stock has nosedived. A move to Manchester City fell through following the launch of a spot-fixing investigation by the Football Association in August 2023. Paqueta was cleared in July but his long-term future remains uncertain.

He was sent off against Liverpool at the weekend. The 28-year-old playmaker apologised for his actions but will be suspended for Thursday’s game against Manchester United, having also missed the recent 2-2 draw with Bournemouth through suspension.

Paqueta was the subject of interest from Aston Villa in the summer, while boyhood club Flamengo have a long-standing interest in the midfielder. The Brazilian club made an unsatisfactory offer to sign Paqueta in the summer of 2024, a bid West Ham sources described as “laughable”.

“The first moment (Flamengo tried to sign Paqueta) was when (Marcos) Braz was still at Flamengo (as vice-president), there was that contact,” Paqueta told Brazilian outlet Globoesporte in November. “I know of Flamengo’s desire, and they know of my desire, my passion for the club, so it’s something that always happens. As soon as I was accused, and the whole trial process was about to begin, Braz came to my house, made the offer, and asked what I thought.

“Obviously, I always want to go back to Flamengo, but at that moment I was still a bit undecided about my decision, about what I was going to do. Then I also talked to the West Ham director (David Sullivan) and said, ‘Braz, I want to go back, I know I’ll feel good at Flamengo, but I can’t be ungrateful to the club that’s supporting me so much’.”

A more likely January departure is James Ward-Prowse. The 31-year-old midfielder, who joined for £30m from Southampton in August 2023, has been frozen out of the team by Nuno. Under Potter, Ward-Prowse started league games against Southampton, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. But since Nuno’s arrival, the midfielder has not featured in the matchday squad.

“It’s just decisions and I’ve been honest with all the players,” said Nuno when asked what Ward-Prowse has to do to impress him in his pre-match press conference before the defeat by Liverpool. “All the players are committed and working hard. It’s not an easy situation, but believe me, making the squad and deciding is tough. But we decide for the best. He’s been professional and very good (during this time).”

It seems inevitable that Fullkrug will end his 15-month spell next month. The 31-year-old forward has a paltry return of three goals in 26 appearances since joining for £27m from Borussia Dortmund in 2024. Team-mate Callum Wilson has already surpassed Fullkrug’s goalscoring record (four in 10 games) having only joined in August on a free transfer from Newcastle United. Last month, Fullkrug’s agent, Thorsten Wirth, hinted at an exit during an interview with the TOMorrow Business Podcast.

“This always has to happen in cooperation with the club, but I believe it can make sense to change something there,” he said. “Looking back, we have to say the transfer didn’t work out. There’s no point in sugarcoating it.”

Midfielder Andy Irving has made six league appearances this season, his most recent coming in the 2-0 defeat by Leeds United in October. The 25-year-old has not featured in the past four matches. Those close to Irving say it is impossible to predict whether he will leave on loan, but he has high hopes of featuring in Scotland’s World Cup squad next summer. The midfielder, who made his international debut against Liechtenstein in June, was an unused substitute in Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark.
Which players’ contracts are expiring? Who will they renew?

Guido Rodriguez, George Earthy, Irving, Lukasz Fabianski and Wilson are entering the final months of their deals. Rodriguez’s contract has an option to extend for a further year but this clause does not feature in Earthy, Irving, Fabianski and Wilson’s contracts. They are all yet to enter talks over a potential extension and a January exit could be on the cards for Earthy.

He made his first-team debut in March 2024 against Freiburg but is yet to feature under Nuno. The midfielder had loan interest from Championship clubs in August but opted to stay. It was a frustrating summer for the 21-year-old, having missed pre-season after sustaining an ankle ligament injury. After recovering, Earthy pulled his hamstring in Nuno’s first training session in September.

He was sidelined for six weeks and returned for the under-21s in their EFL Trophy victory against Swindon Town. Earthy, who last season had a season-long loan at Championship side Bristol City, was an unused substitute in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth and did not feature in the matchday squad against Liverpool. The midfielder is open to leaving on loan next month.

What is their PSR position? What sort of budget do they have?

West Ham are not currently negatively impacted by the restrictions of profit and sustainability regulations (PSR). Sources inside the club anticipate a busy window. Nuno will be backed in the transfer market, although he was coy about where improvements will be made.

“Now is not the moment,” he said in last week’s press conference. “I think when we have to sit down is when the window opens. But the club has all the tools that they need.”

[Alfs]

Is that Nick on Crack?

[RBshorty]

Sounds like the Scream Queen trying too drum up business for his boss.! 

8.2 on the full of shit Ritter Scale. Looks like Gonzo will pump any shit about the club being sold. And Happy here got the player coming’s and going’s. If it keeps the local’s quiet then carry on.?

And don’t forget.

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[Massive Attack]

Pick the bones out of this then..



For what it's worth if it were true, I'd certainly smash the Fuck-it Button on doing it right now..

🖲

[zico]

Not just us, I put many an English Club in this bracket, but too many very average foreign players are in the League these days.  You can't tell me that there aren't better British players with better attitudes than some of our squad playing in the lower Leagues.  We need to scout closer to home IMO.

[ragingbull]

Probably time to sell our women’s team to ourselves for around £200 million.

Sully can't help himself and buy the team for 1 million Euros.

[Sweep]

Two players with pace for the front 3 is a definite - the CF also needs to be a unit. Fulkrug out.

If someone offers a reasonable amount for Paqueta , then a flair player probably on loan.

We'll probably off another three in midfield (JWP/Irving/Rodriguez) so another one there too. 

They can't hold back if they want to stay up. 

[Gaffer58]

Probably time to sell our women’s team to ourselves for around £200 million.

[fraser]

I would be happy with them being equal to what we have in our starting line up, it's the drop off when we introduce our subs which kills us. 

[Sweep]

If he can’t drop straight in. Or last a full 90.? Then he’s another Guilherme. ie. A expensive passenger. Something. We are being told. We can I’ll afford.

That's the thing.

Think we can all pretty much name what's become our best XI so far this season - Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Diouf, Kilman, Todibo, Potts, Fernandes, Paqueta, Summerville, Bowen, Wilson - there's only the odd question mark about whether another player in the current squad gets in that XI.

The signings who come in need to be an improvement on what's already there - whether that's a better player, or the same standard player but fitter/healthier and much less likely to be in the sick bay.