West Ham trio Slaven Bilic could sell in January if he replaces Nuno – Two forwards could join Niclas Fullkrug
Slaven Bilic could be in charge of West Ham’s January transfer window after being linked with a sensational return to E20.
Nuno Espirito Santo is under scrutiny after West Ham lost 1-0 to Fulham on Saturday and remained five points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
A run of seven matches without a win has seen them lose ground on the sides above them, and the Hammers are certainly treading dangerous waters under the Portuguese manager.
Bilic could join West Ham over eight years after being sacked in November 2017, with the circumstances at the London Stadium incredibly different this time around.
With the January transfer window just three days away from opening, who would Bilic sell if he walked through the door to join Niclas Fullkrug in exiting the club?
Max Kilman
Kilman joined West Ham from Wolves for a fee of £40million in 2023, and it’s safe to say his spell in E20 has been underwhelming.
Kilman made a crucial mistake against Bournemouth on 22 November, and it led to him being dropped for three out of the next four matches.
However, he has played 90 minutes in both losses to Fulham and Man City, and failed to improve on his poor performances.
It’s clear that if West Ham are to avoid relegation, they’ll need everyone to be completely switched on for each game, and the English centre-back has shown multiple times that he can’t do that.
The 28-year-old is not valued by supporters, and with Bilic likely to prefer more traditional defenders who aren’t afraid to put their bodies on the line, Kilman’s future would be in doubt.
Looking further up the pitch, Lucas Paqueta is someone who may be heading for the exit very soon.
Lucas Paqueta
Paqueta has been a brilliant signing for the Hammers, and he is one of the few players who can create a moment of magic out of nothing.
However, he has been below par this season, and his discipline has let him down in crucial moments.
For a creative midfielder, he boasts awful numbers when it comes to getting on the wrong side of the referees.
| Season | Appearances | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| 2022-23 | 28 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 31 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 33 | 10 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 16 | 5 | 1 |
Paqueta was suspended for West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on 22 November, and then picked up a needless red card for arguing with the officials in the following loss to Liverpool.
He has often played on the periphery of matches under Nuno, being deployed on the left wing and even as a false nine in different occasions.
Bilic will want midfielders with grit and determination at the heart of his team, and with Paqueta being one of West Ham’s most valuable assets, he could look to sell him in order to raise funds for more pressing issues.
Paqueta can be a liability to the team, and after a three-and-a-half-year spell in East London, it might be time for West Ham to finally part ways with the Brazilian.
Callum Wilson
Looking at the strikers West Ham have at their disposal, it’s clear that work needs to be done in January.
Bilic will prefer a traditional forward who can get on the end of crosses and bully defenders, and it could mean that Wilson will be sold.
West Ham have been linked with Jorgen Strand Larsen, and Wolves’ target man could be a great addition, especially given the fact that he scored 14 league goals in 2024-25.
| Stat | Strand LArsen |
| Appearances | 35 |
| Goals | 14 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Expected goals | 10.27 |
| Shots | 54 |
Bilic had the likes Michail Antonio and Marko Arnautovic at his disposal nearly a decade ago, and he managed to get them scoring important goals.
As for Wilson, he hasn’t done much wrong since joining on a free transfer in the summer.
However, aged 34 and incredibly injury-prone, the former Newcastle striker could be on his way out under a new manager.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest West Ham United news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @westhamzone247