The Hammers have kick-started the 2026/27 campaign with a victory as a brace from Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen’s strike from range comfortably placed Nuno’s side into Round Two of the Carabao Cup. Yet despite the victory, it was still a nervy affair.

The first thirty minutes were carnage for West Ham, Portsmouth took the lead after persistently threatening the Hammers with a deflected strike from range. The travelling Portsmouth fans erupted and Hammer heads fell, but a feeling of relief dropped into the stadium after Taty converted from close range to make it 1-1.

West Ham: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles, Alvarez, Orford, Kante, Bowen (C), Taty, Pablo
Subs: Areola, Ward-Prowse, Diouf, Veltman, Earthy, Casey, Golambeckis, Mayers, Ajala

Portsmouth: Schmid, Poole, Shaughnessy, Bishop, Segecic, Le Roux, Shein, Swanson, Devlin, Adams, Brooke-Smith
Subs: Bielica, Knight, Matthews, Dia, Bailey, Swift, Kenny, Milovanovic, Waddingham

The Hammers were previously targeting Manor Solomon, but the deal with the Tottenham Forward has ground to a halt due to ‘financial difficulties’ - West Ham were happy to offer £5m for the forward but, in the end, couldn’t agree an additional fee with Spurs. Whilst all seems normal, the reality is that we were happy to pay more initially, but due to the backlash from a large portion of the fanbase, the club have opted against the deal from happening.

Last night, reports were made that the Hammers would be signing a free agent, and it was believed to be a defender - many came to the conclusion that the individual in question was a former Brighton player, yet that didn’t quite narrow it down.

Brighton have three former players available on a free: Adam Webster, Solly March and Joël Veltman. The Hammers have opted for the third name, the 34-year-old Dutchman who can play centrally and also on the right.

West Ham’s ownership conundrum takes another twist! Daniel Kretinsky this morning has announced that he has sold 2.2% of his stake to fellow Czech billionaire Jakub Havrlant, as he is set to buy the Gold family’s stake in full without surpassing the 50% rule, meaning he wouldn’t trigger the shareholders’ agreement clause, which was formed in 2021 and would’ve forced him to buy Sullivan’s 38.8% stake at an inflated price.

West Ham United have been seeking a replacement for Crysencio Summerville, who recently departed to Al-Hilal for an astonishing £55,000,000. Despite the funds amassed, the Hammers are taking their time to decide which left-sided winger they would like to pursue and aren’t letting themselves be dragged in and pay a fortune.

Two backup winger targets the Hammers have laid eyes on are Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson and Sunderland’s Simon Adingra. These wingers will be the alternatives to our primary and controversial target, Manor Solomon from Tottenham Hotspur.

West Ham United have confirmed that Amanda Staveley has provisionally purchased Vanessa Gold's 25.1% stake.

West Ham: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles, Kante, Orford, Lamadrid, Bowen (C), Taty, Pablo

Subs: Areolam Herrick, Ward-Prowse, Diouf, Cornet, Magassa, Potts, Earthy, Casey, Mayers, Ajala, Golambeckis

Despite his family holding a reign and tradition in East London, it appears a decision has concluded the end of this spell, West Ham are set to sell the youngster for £10,000,000 to Club Brugge.

Club Brugge were happy to purchase the Englishman for €12m after losing their star and former West Ham target, Raphael Onyedika.

West Ham had been open to entertaining offers for quite a while, and the £10m fee is sufficient for West Ham to bite and subsequently sell.

After lurking rumours in the background for a long time, it has finally been announced that Amanda Staveley is stepping up her interest in buying a 25% stake in West Ham with the ambition for a full takeover when possible.

As time has passed, it has become evident that Daniel Kretinsky would like to remain as a minority shareholder, but would like enough to currently have control, providing him with the highest stake, allowing him to have control over certain issues, rather than seeing other shareholders, David Sullivan, run the club into the ground.