Nuno Espirito Santo has perfect £17m opportunity to end Guido Rodriguez’s West Ham career
West Ham could see several players exit the London Stadium in January, and one of those is striker Niclas Fullkrug.
AC Milan have agreed to sign Fullkrug on loan with a possible option to buy, seeing his Hammers career draw to a close after just 29 appearances and three goals.
The German international only joined in 2024 from Borussia Dortmund, and he isn’t the only one who could leave in January after arriving in that window.
Guido Rodriguez is being linked with a transfer out of West Ham, with Club America emerging as a preferred destination, according to his agent.
Rodriguez was snapped up on a free transfer from Real Betis last summer, but the 31-year-old is surplus to requirements.
West Ham should go back in for Quinten Timber
In an attempt to get the Argentine off the books, the issue can be forced by signing someone else, and Quinten Timber is the ideal candidate.
West Ham shortlisted Feyenoord’s Timber as a possible signing in the last transfer window, but the Hammers reinforced their engine room with the additions of Soungoutou Magassa and Mateus Fernandes.
Whilst Magassa and Fernandes have become vital cogs in Nuno Espirito Santo’s system, Timber could challenge for a place in the starting lineup.
The 24-year-old boasts incredible athleticism and ball-playing qualities, along with versatility, as he’s operated as a number six, box-to-box midfielder and number 10.
| Quinten Timber’s stats per 90 2025/26 |
| 6.12 progressive passes |
| 2.33 progressive carries |
| 1.05 successful take-ons |
| 3.78 touches (att pen) |
| 4.99 shot-creating actions |
| 4.03 progressive passes received |
Hammers supporters will be encouraged by the Dutchman’s progressive qualities and will feel he can add something special to their midfield.
Encouragingly, with his contract expiring in 2026, Fichajes reported in November that he’s available for just £17million in January, and West Ham are one of several clubs interested.
What Mikel Arteta has said about Timber
£17m for a player of Timber’s quality seems like an opportunity Nuno can’t pass up, and what Mikel Arteta has said about him reinforces that point.
The Arsenal boss – who manages his twin brother Jurrien at the Emirates Stadium – once labelled the Feyenoord star as ‘extraordinary’.
“Yeah, the parents have done a really good job I think! I know the brother a little bit, I know the family,” Arteta said via Arsenal’s official website in December 2023.
“Really good footballers and two extraordinary kids. I don’t know the rest because they’re a big family but congratulations to the parents.”
West Ham could kickstart their transfer business with a bang by landing Timber.
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