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

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has warned that his rebuilt side still lack firepower, even after smashing the Championship transfer record to land Celtic midfielder Arne Engels for £22m.

The 20-year-old Belgian becomes the fourth new arrival since relegation from the Premier League, but Nuno’s message after a bruising opening day at Burnley was blunt: this squad is not finished.

Record deal, unfinished job

Engels follows Brighton defender Joel Veltman, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Manor Solomon and the permanent signing of Keiber Lamadrid, whose loan from Deportivo La Guaira was turned into a full deal in January.

It is a clear attempt to reset the spine of a team still adjusting to life outside the top flight. Yet a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor, where West Ham squandered a 2-0 lead, exposed familiar frailties.

"We need players, especially in the offensive part of the team," Nuno said after watching his side let Burnley back into a game they had seemed to control.

"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."

The pressure told late on at Burnley. West Ham’s legs faded, their threat evaporated, and the manager’s post-match assessment turned quickly from the point gained to the reinforcements still required.

Engels at the heart of the rebuild

If there was a bright light on a frustrating afternoon, it was the arrival of Engels. Signed for a record fee at this level, he lands in London with numbers that explain West Ham’s gamble: 17 goals and 22 assists in 100 appearances for Celtic.

Nuno is convinced the midfielder can anchor the next phase of the club’s rebuild.

"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, clearly viewing Engels as both a creator and a stabiliser in a key area.

That central unit will be bolstered further when Tomas Soucek returns.

"We have Tomas too. When he returns, I think we'll have more options and be stronger in the middle of the park," Nuno added, hinting at a more robust and varied midfield once everyone is fit.

Transfer urgency as season kicks off

Behind the scenes, the pace is relentless. Nuno made it clear that the recruitment drive is far from over.

"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."

The message is unmistakable. A record signing has arrived, three more deals are already done, but for a club trying to claw its way back to the Premier League at the first attempt, the question now is simple: can West Ham find the extra attacking edge they need before the window slams shut?