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It’ll require a Christmas miracle from Nuno Santo-Claus to convince the board to make numerous signings come the opening of the January window. It’s been suspected and alluded to for a while that three new bodies will be brought in to the squad to help bolster the various positions required.

The last time that Stingy Scrooge provided the club with more than ONE new incoming was nearly half a decade ago! But given the dire situation that the Hammers find theatres in, you’d be astonished if no transfers were coughed up, seeing as just a small addition here and there just could be enough to get the ball rolling.

However, West Ham’s track record amongst January also is a cause for concern, seeing as it appears that all the signings are usually conducted towards the end of the window or on deadline day which is a horrific gameplan given that the majority of clubs often increase the price of players or are just reluctant to sell in general… you’d think for a stingy owner that he’d cut the costs where he could.

Clubs such as Aston Villa have already begun their business and are making agreements 19 days before the window opens. That’s how an owner backs a club when they understand that tools are required for the project to be completed.

Initially, it was thought that the Hammers would make three signings during January, covering all parts of the pitch with a defender, midfielder and attacker, but as time has passed on Nuno understands the primary requirements are a defender and a forward. The club are likely to see a “one in, one out” model for the winter, but Fullkrug is already leaning out the door, so off that basis, a forward will be signed.

Additions are required if West Ham wants to stay up, and a crucial January all over will decide the fate of all.

Ahead of transfer window preparations, the Hammers have started to analyse which strikers they could potentially sign come the January or Summer window.

The latest batch of scouts has targeted a player the club is interested in previously, that being Samu Omorodion from Porto. The club had numerous bids rejected for the forward whilst he was at Atletico Madrid, but due to the type of deal that Porto had offered, he transferred his way to Portugal.

The final deal concluded was for a 50% sell-on-clause, and just €15,000,000, in which the Hammers offered €30,000,000, but the cunning plan to play it long term is what Atletico opted for.

In light of this understanding, Porto will ask for an extortionate fee for the talented forward just to reduce damage limitation of the sell-on-clause, but the club are set to test the waters otherwise.

If Hammers fans peel back their minds to last window, it’ll be quickly remembered that Porto held peak interest in Guilherme, and the only reason a deal wasn’t concluded was due to Graham Potter refusing to sell the Brazilian, but judging by Nuno’s apparent distaste for the forward, it’s expected for tied to be cut.

Meaning, the club could test the waters for a swap deal, considering both parties hold interest in one another’s players. It is inevitable that a fee would still have to be added on West Ham’s end, but focusing on a swap deal helps the Portuguese side negate the sell-on clause, subsequently bolstering the chances for the East London side to complete a deal.

Trick of the trade, but it’ll take some serious bargaining and conversations to get rid of all the deadwood the club have built up. Unfortunately, it’s yet another ‘youth prospect’ that has failed to shine bright as first thought. - LN

A good all-round performance, numerous chances throughout the game and once again the feeling of two lost points linger in the minds as the Hammers remain in the relegation zone and are two points adrift from safety.

It’s a brutal blow and a hurtful one to watch. Across the 90 minutes, Summerville had a plethora of chances and, unfortunately, couldn’t finish his dinner. Numerous opportunities to take the lead early on, and the biggest blunder was the one-on-one miss in the first half, with the second blunder coming through an acrobatic effort that should’ve been converted.

A bizarre line-up as well as a wacky gameplan, but the side, which was rotated due to fatigue worries, managed to pull through, and at the beginning of the day, similar to Bournemouth, you would’ve snapped your arm off for a draw but the result feels a robbery after VAR controversy costs Nuno’s side two vital points.

Two incidents for the goal make you question whether the overhead kick was safe and wouldn’t be classed as a high foot for Mavropanos, as well as the bigger one being the handball and the ambiguity around it, what is and isn’t a handball, because each situation varies and we’ve seen those given and disallowed countless amounts of times.

The other discussion of if Marvo goes to ground, 99% it would’ve been given as a foul, which just goes to show how windy these rules are given that a gust of chance can decide a match, one simple action and it all comes down to play acting and honesty.

This conversation regarding the goal could’ve all been avoided if chances had been finished, but Bowen’s moment of brilliance proved to not be enough, and Nuno might have to reevaluate the decision to shut up shop so soon once again, given that West Ham seem to concede more whilst shutting up shop in comparison to when they don’t! The irony!

One loss in six would’ve been something any Hammers fans would’ve accepted upon Nuno’s arrival, and it does demonstrate how much he’s managed to turn the corner, given Potter had the same tools to build the shed that Nuno has and he instead built a kennel. But somehow one loss in six still isn’t anywhere near enough due to the damage that had already been done.

Given the next two being Aston Villa and Manchester City, it becomes a distant struggle to imagine how West Ham could be out of the relegation zone come Christmas.