West Ham face a pivotal January transfer window that may well determine their Premier League survival, but manager Nuno Espírito Santo also faces the threat of losing players.
Players who could leave West Ham in January
Niclas Füllkrug tops the departure list following his disastrous £27 million move from Borussia Dortmund, with the 32-year-old’s spell marred by repeated injury lay-offs.
He’s scored just three goals since arriving in 2024, failing to find the net at all this season, and his agent, Thorsten Wirth, has publicly acknowledged the transfer simply hasn’t worked.
Fullkrug is reportedly desperate for regular playing time to salvage his 2026 World Cup hopes, with Hamburg, Wolfsburg, Stuttgart, Hoffenheim and AC Milan all expressing rumoured interest in the Germany international ahead of January.
There is also the matter of James Ward-Prowse, who’s been completely excluded by Nuno ever since the Portuguese’s arrival at Rush Green.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
The 30-year-old was a firm regular under Graham Potter and named vice-captain, but Nuno’s appointment has seen him miss out on every single Premier League matchday squad.
Ward-Prowse is resigned to leaving West Ham in January as a result, with reports suggesting he could be joined by Guido Rodriguez as the Argentine attracts interest from abroad.
They may not be the only midfielders set for the London Stadium exit door either, as uncertainty continues to surround the future of Lucas Paqueta.
The Brazil international, who sent an interesting response to backlash surrounding his ridiculous sending off against Liverpool over the weekend, is reportedly open to the prospect of a mid-season exit and could well leave as their most high-profile departure.
Former West Ham senior scout, Mick Brown, has now told Football Insider that Paqueta leaving the club is a credible possibility.
West Ham set for 'big decision' over selling Lucas Paqueta
Brown says that West Ham are set for a ‘big decision’ over selling Paqueta next month, and Nuno will be ‘fuming’ about the 28-year-old’s conduct against Liverpool following one of the most bizarre dismissals you’ll ever see.
The former Lyon star, who was once on the verge of joining Man City before his spot-fixing allegations scuppered the deal, will leave the club in 2027 as things stand when his contract is due to expire.
Paqueta has already admitted that he desires a return to Flamengo one day, and admitted the move was actually close to happening last summer.
Nuno will need a replacement for Paqueta if he does leave, but West Ham are believed to be in the market for a new midfielder.