West Ham’s January to-do list is growing, and Nuno Espírito Santo has a familiar fix in mind. Adama Traoré, out of contract at Fulham in the summer and used sparingly this season, is back on his old manager’s radar. The link makes sense: Nuno knows precisely what the winger brings and how to use him.
A Sky Sports report says the Hammers are exploring a deal, with Nuno’s close relationship from their four years at Wolves a key factor. Under him, Traoré made 131 appearances, scoring 10 and assisting 18, and earned a reputation for raw pace and game-breaking dribbles. The Portuguese coach’s own words sketch the blueprint.
Adama Traore West Ham transfer
The fit is obvious. West Ham need direct running to flip pressure and ease relegation nerves. Traoré’s contract situation opens the door to a cut-price move, and minutes are available on the flanks. Nuno has “tried to sign him before” and believes he can still tilt games when used with intent and structure.
Traoré has started just two league matches for Fulham this term. A reset under a manager who trusts him and knows his triggers could squeeze value quickly without a long bedding-in period.
Nuno Espírito Santo quotes on Adama Traoré
Nuno’s view of the Spaniard has never been coy. “Adama is unique worldwide. He always has space to give things to the team,” he said in 2019, stressing how speed and 1v1 threat change the picture for everyone else.
He also framed the standards: “He brings an element of speed, unpredictability, quality and at the same time he must improve in all the aspects of the game.”
It also underpins why the move appeals now. The manager trusts the chaos; the player understands the asks.
With a June expiry at Craven Cottage, structure matters more than sticker shock. A modest fee plus add-ons suits all parties: Fulham bank value, West Ham cap risk, Traoré gets minutes before the run-in. The club may also clear space up front, with Niclas Füllkrug attracting Bundesliga interest and fresh links to a centre-forward such as Joshua Zirkzee. Wide reinforcement plus a nine would rebalance a blunt attack.
Usage is the lever. Nuno has often deployed Traoré as a game-state weapon, start when space beckons, finish when tired legs need punishing. Expect clear instructions: fix full-backs high and wide, attack the outside shoulder, and release early to runners once the box is pinned.
What Nuno will demand now
The final ball has always been the sticking point, and Nuno said so at Wolves. The fix is repetition and role clarity: prescribed cut-back zones, fewer floated crosses, more driven deliveries. A simple KPI set entries into the box, cut-backs completed, fouls won high keeps the focus on actions that move scorelines, not just highlight reels.
