Credit: Imago

Declan Carr

Thu 7 May 2026 7:10, UK

West Ham United have several players set to return to the London Stadium ahead of the new season.

The likes of Niclas Fullkrug, James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez, Maxwel Cornet, Kaelan Casey and Callum Marshall are all out on loan.

Nuno Espirito Santo will have a decision to make on most of those players ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The calls that he makes may well depend on which division the club are in next season, with a potential relegation on the cards.

West Ham need to get it right, whichever league that they are in, but some chances may be helped if they are in the Championship.

Here, West Ham Zone assesses which of the loan players could make the squad.

Niclas Fullkrug – Sell

Fullkrug has just not hit the ground running at West Ham since his £27million move from Borussia Dortmund in 2024.

He was loaned to AC Milan in the winter window, with a reported £4.3m buy-out clause inserted in that deal.

However, the Italian club are not expected to pick that up, as he has notched one goal in 17 matches in his time at the San Siro.

The Irons must look to sell him in the summer, as it is clear that he does not have what it takes to succeed in English football, and his deal expires in 2028.

James Ward-Prowse – Sell

Ward-Prowse has fallen out of favour with Nuno, and that is why he was allowed to join relegation rivals Burnley on a temporary deal.

There is little suggestion that the manager’s stance on the veteran midfielder will change anytime soon, as he has struggled with the Clarets, too.

A sale would be the best outcome for all parties, as his deal expires in 2027.

Edson Alvarez – Sell

Alvarez could not cemented a role with the Hammers, and has not played for them this season.

He was loaned to Fenerbahce in August, where he has made 18 appearances in all competitions for the Turkish side.

It seems like an exit is on the cards, but whether the Yellow Canaries activate the £19m buy-out clause included in the deal remains to be seen, ahead of his contract running out in 2028.

Maxwel Cornet – Sell

Cornet has never got going in E20 since joining from Burnley in 2022 in a £17.5m move.

He has made a total of 37 appearances for the Hammers, with one goal and seven assists in that time, but he could never get consistency.

He is currently on loan at Genoa, where the Ivorian has played eight times, failing to register a goal contribution.

Surely, his time with the Irons is finished, but they may have to find an alternative suitor for the 29-year-old, before his deal expires in 2027.

Kaelan Casey – Keep

Casey is one of the most promising talents to come out of the Rush Green academy and unlike the aforementioned names, he is not approaching the wrong end of his career.

He had difficult times on loan with Swansea in the first half of the campaign, then with Leyton Orient for the second half of the season.

He featured a total of 29 times, which is less than the Hammers would have liked.

Despite that, he should be kept around, regardless of the division that the side are in, as he is contracted until 2027.

Callum Marshall – Keep

Marshall is probably the most promising one on the list, making his Premier League debut earlier this season before heading out on loan.

He has notched two goals and two assists in 15 games for Vfl Bochum in the second tier of German football.

That suggests that he could be a vital asset in the Championship, if the worst happens, but he should also be a part of the squad if the Hammers remain in the top-flight.

He is under contract until 2027, so there is still time for him to develop.