West Ham's Nuno Espirito Santo Calls for More Firepower After Record Signing

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo has warned that his squad still lacks attacking firepower, even after smashing the Championship transfer record to land Celtic midfielder Arne Engels for £22m.

Engels becomes the fourth new arrival since relegation from the Premier League, a statement signing in a summer that has been busy but, in Nuno’s eyes, still incomplete.

Record signing, but work still to do

The Belgian’s move from Celtic follows the capture of Brighton defender Joel Veltman, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Manor Solomon and the permanent deal for Keiber Lamadrid, whose loan from Deportivo La Guaira was made full-time in January.

It is a rebuild with clear intent. But Nuno’s message after West Ham let a 2-0 lead slip to draw 2-2 at Burnley in their Championship opener was blunt.

"We need players, especially in the offensive part of the team," he said, frustrated by how his side faded after a strong start. The points dropped only sharpened his view of what is missing.

He has experimented already.

"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."

Tactical tweaks can only take them so far. Nuno wants specialists, not just solutions.

Engels to lift the midfield

Engels, at least, arrives with numbers that demand attention. He scored 17 goals and supplied 22 assists in 100 appearances for Celtic, a consistent creative outlet in Glasgow now asked to do the same in a very different fight.

Nuno did not hide his enthusiasm.

"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," he said, hinting at the balance Engels could bring to a developing core.

There is also the looming return of a familiar figure.

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

With Engels and Soucek, the spine begins to look sturdier. The real question is what will be built in front of it.

Transfer push gathers pace

Behind the scenes, the pace is picking up.

"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," Nuno added.

A record fee has brought a new playmaker through the door. The manager, though, is clearly pushing for more.

West Ham have started their season by letting a win slip away and breaking the division’s transfer record. The next few weeks will show whether that ambition in the market is enough to turn a relegated side into genuine promotion contenders.