Nuno Espirito Santo Calls for More Offensive Power at West Ham

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has warned that his rebuilt side still lack firepower, even after smashing the Championship transfer record to land Celtic midfielder Arne Engels for £22m.

The 20-year-old becomes the fourth arrival of a busy summer since relegation from the Premier League, joining Brighton defender Joel Veltman, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Manor Solomon and Keiber Lamadrid, whose loan from Deportivo La Guaira was turned into a permanent deal in January.

Yet Nuno’s message after a frustrating 2-2 draw at Burnley was blunt: this is not enough.

Nuno wants more punch up front

West Ham led 2-0 in their Championship opener before being hauled back, a collapse that underlined Nuno’s concerns about his attacking options.

"We need players, especially in the offensive part of the team," he said after the game. The late fade at Turf Moor only sharpened that point. West Ham created, but they could not kill.

"We have young lads, we have options of double full-back, like we did in the last game and in this game, but we need more bodies in the offensive part of the team."

The tactical improvisation – including the use of double full-backs – has given Nuno short-term flexibility. It is not his long-term plan. He wants specialists, not stopgaps, in the final third as West Ham chase an immediate return to the top flight.

Engels arrives with numbers and expectation

Into that context steps Engels, signed for a fee that underlines both West Ham’s ambition and the pressure on him to deliver.

The Belgian produced 17 goals and 22 assists in 100 appearances for Celtic, numbers that explain why West Ham were prepared to pay big to bring him south. Nuno believes he can change the rhythm of West Ham’s midfield.

"He's a very good player. I think he'll help us a lot in the middle of the park, where we have two young players," the manager said.

Engels is expected to operate as a creative hub, linking midfield to attack and easing the burden on West Ham’s forwards. His arrival also comes with an eye on balance: West Ham’s midfield has been light on experience, and Nuno wants control as much as chaos.

"We have Tomas [Soucek] too. When he returns, I think we'll have more options and be stronger in the middle of the park."

Soucek’s comeback, paired with Engels’ creativity and the energy of the younger midfielders, could give Nuno the platform he needs to unleash a more aggressive attacking structure. For now, though, it remains a work in progress.

Transfer push not over

Behind the scenes, the recruitment drive is still running at full speed. Four signings have arrived, but Nuno is clear that the squad is not yet complete.

"There's a lot of activity. The club knows the targets and the needs of the team. We're working very hard and trying to get the bodies in as soon as possible," he said.

The message is unmistakable. Engels may be a record signing, but he is only part of a larger rebuild. West Ham have started their Championship campaign with a reminder of both their potential and their fragility.

Now the question is simple: how quickly can Nuno get the extra attacking edge he keeps asking for – and will it arrive in time to turn a promotion push from hope into expectation?