Soucek 2.0, Paqueta successor: 6 players West Ham should target in January

Things aren’t too rosy at West Ham United right now, with the Hammers on their second manager of the season and attempting to avoid a relegation fight as we head towards January.

However, the new year provides Nuno Espirito Santo’s side with potential for respite, as the transfer window could hold the key to salvaging what they can out of the campaign’s remainder.

With problems all over the pitch, it would not be a surprise if West Ham’s focus was widespread when they are allowed to buy players again.

But who should they sign in 2026? Here is a list of potential recruits that could take the Hammers’ fancy.

With conceding goals by the bucketload a huge concern at the London Stadium, it would not be a shock to find a new centre-back near the top of Espirito Santo’s wishlist.

Lille centre-back Alexsandro has been linked in recent weeks, with claims even suggesting that talks have already commenced.

Given that the Brazilian was previously linked with Arsenal, that may bode well for his quality.

Kobbie Mainoo has rather spectacularly fallen out of favour at Manchester United, leaving the England midfielder with an uncertain future at Old Trafford.

It was speculated in October that Mainoo was on West Ham’s radar, which adds some weight to the idea that they could make an approach for the 20-year-old in the new year.

With a World Cup on the horizon, Mainoo may well push for a move regardless, so a loan switch at the very least could appeal to United.

If West Ham decide that January is the perfect time to make some midfield upgrades, Genoa’s Morten Frendrup could be an ideal candidate to come in.

While he remains a key player, Tomas Soucek’s level of influence has changed, with the Czech’s impressive attacking prowess on show despite a significant reduction in progressive carries and passes since the start of 2022/23.

The lack of success at West Ham within that period (domestically, at least) suggests something different in the middle of the park may be needed, with or without Soucek involved.

Someone who has emulated the progressive elements of Soucek’s early West Ham career is Genoa’s Frendrup, who was linked in the summer and is reportedly still liked in east London.

Something that may force West Ham into action in 2026 is the possibility of Lucas Paqueta forcing a move away from the London Stadium.

The Brazilian stayed put in the summer despite intense speculation, but rumours are persisting as the winter window approaches.

Werder Bremen’s Romano Schmid is someone West Ham have kept tabs on in the past who could fill Paqueta’s void.

As of early November, the Austrian has the most goal involvements for Werder Bremen, and with Paqueta a prominent source of goals for the Hammers, he could well fit the bill if Espirito Santo is tempted to revisit a reported Graham Potter target.

The wing positions could easily become a key area for West Ham to target in the upcoming windows, with Crysencio Summerville hardly setting the world alight and Luis Guilherme getting nowhere near enough game time.

With Jarrod Bowen nailing down his position primarily on the right, the left-hand side is perhaps in more need of replenishment.

Baris Alper Yilmaz, who enjoyed a decent showing at Euro 2024 with Turkey and notched 12 goals in 32 league appearances last season, is someone who is thought to be on West Ham’s shortlist, with Spanish-based reports suggesting a €40m (£35.2m) offer is being prepared.

However, whether a mid-season move or abandoning Galatasaray’s impressive Champions League campaign would appeal to Yilmaz remains to be seen.

While rumours linking West Ham with an audacious move for Real Madrid starlet Endrick appear to be wide of the mark, Nuno Espirito Santo will surely be keen to bolster his attacking ranks if given the opportunity in January.

And it seems as though they have been given the chance to explore a move for Kaio Jorge, who has been linked with a switch to the London Stadium since the closing of the transfer window.

Despite the player’s apparent reluctance to leave Cruzeiro at this stage, it has been stated that a deal could still be possible, so given there is clear admiration from the Hammers, a January transfer (during the Brazilian off-season) may yet come to pass.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.