(Credit: Imago and Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Jacob Raw

Thu 28 May 2026 16:10, UK

Nuno Espirito Santo will most likely have to take a pay cut to stay on as West Ham United boss following talks with the board.

The Hammers need to raise £150million in player sales to balance the books at the London Stadium, which highlights the significant financial work that needs to be done by David Sullivan.

Revenue in key areas such as broadcast, commercial, and sponsorships is all predicted to drop by millions upon millions following the Irons’ relegation to the Championship.

The West Ham head coach had held positive talks with Sullivan and Co. in recent days, but that will have also included talking points on the harsh reality of what’s to come this summer.

West Ham could have sacked Nuno for free due to a clause in his contract, but with the former Nottingham Forest boss set to stay in E20, his current salary may change.

Christian Purslow says West Ham have ‘no way’ to pay Nuno’s current wage

Nuno now looks likely to remain as West Ham boss, and once everything is agreed, the Portuguese head coach may receive a new deal with fresh terms included in the contract.

The 52-year-old is said to be earning around £7m to £8m with the Hammers right now, but that is a salary that is believed to be unsustainable in the Championship due to expected losses and other forms of expenditure.

As seen in the table above, the Hammers have been predicted for significant drops in various income streams, particularly their overall turnover, which could fall by over £100m annually in the second tier.

While speaking on The Football Boardroom, ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow assessed West Ham’s situation, revealing that the Irons are in no position to keep paying Nuno his current wage.

Purslow said: “There’s no way they could sustain a basic £7m to £8m salary in the Championship.”

Then, speaking on what he would tell Nuno from a West Ham point of view, he said: “Yes, we can’t meet your terms on basic pay, but maybe there’s a way with an aggressive payment structure to reward you if you get us out of the championship quickly.

“The average Championship manager’s salary is in the high hundreds of thousands to millions, no way he’s staying at that level. Maybe a 50 per cent reduction to £3m or £4m at basic pay.”

With that being said, Nuno is likely to be handed a new deal if everything is agreed for him to stay, and that could include a salary reduction, softened by the potential for bigger earnings if promotion is achieved, as Purslow suggests.

West Ham close to slicing half of £150m player sales already

While a new contract for Nuno isn’t official, it would be very, from both a business and footballing stand point.

It would show a public statement of intent from the club in that the Hammers back their head coach, as their written letter earlier this week suggested that they are hopeful of retaining his services.

Once that’s wrapped up, attention will then turn to sales before incomings, as West Ham could be set to bank £10m for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Everton interested.

Mateus Fernandes is also expected to break the Championship’s record sale, which currently stands at £53m, as Arsenal, Manchester United and PSG could battle it out to sign him for around £60m.

These two potential sales alone could almost half the suggested £150m sale figure that is needed this summer at the London Stadium.

It’s going to be a long summer, but Sullivan and Co. need to get lots right on various financial pillars.