West Ham United has been officially relegated. The relegation has triggered a chain reaction that threatens manager Nuno Espírito Santo's position, makes it likely that several players will depart, and will result in significant squad reductions. The Athletic reported that West Ham United must raise £150m through player sales this summer. Matheus Fernandes's contract does not include a release clause, and he has been linked with Manchester United, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain. The club will attempt to retain Jarrod Bowen.

According to anonymous sources within the club, numerous problems emerged during Nuno Espírito Santo's tenure. Most players believed Potter had better prepared the team. Nuno Espírito Santo rarely communicated with players at halftime or after matches. He was unable to work with his former coaching staff from Nottingham Forest. During a 0-3 defeat to Wolves, Nuno Espírito Santo had a heated argument with his assistant coach. The club must raise £150m through player sales this summer, and Matheus Fernandes's contract does not include a release clause.

In January 2025, the club appointed Potter to restore the team's spirit. Several veteran players who played a crucial role in the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League triumph subsequently left the club. Michail Antonio, West Ham's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, did not renew his contract after recovering from a car accident, and Kyle MacAllister, the club's director of recruitment at the time, formally notified him of the decision to leave.

As veteran players departed, the team lost key leaders, and their absence significantly weakened team cohesion.

When the team reconvened for preseason in July, Potter drew up an extensive transfer target list. Loan player Todibo was signed permanently, but the squad remained thin.

Twenty-one-year-old Matheus Fernandes became a primary target. Despite his team's relegation to the Championship, his exceptional ball control attracted attention. West Ham's initial £30m offer with additional clauses was rejected, and he was eventually signed for £38m. The team brought in eight new players but failed to secure midfielders such as Harvey Elliott, Douglas Luiz, and James Maddison, leaving squad depth and quality still lacking.

During Potter's squad overhaul, several key players also departed. Defender Palmieri was overweight and repeatedly late to preseason training; he was demoted to the youth team and missed the US preseason tour. He transferred to Marseille alongside Nayef Aguerd for a low fee. The club had concerns about Kudus's finishing ability, and the Ghana international transferred to Tottenham for £55m. Midfielder Edson Álvarez also had a falling out with the manager and was loaned to Fenerbahçe.

In the season's opening match, West Ham suffered a heavy defeat to promoted Sunderland. The team started the season with three losses in four matches, conceding 11 goals. During a 1-5 home defeat to Chelsea, young fans stormed the pitch in protest. After a League Cup loss to Wolves, captain Jarrod Bowen also clashed with supporters, signaling a disastrous start to the season.

By late August, the team temporarily stabilized with a 3-goal victory over Nottingham Forest, but consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Crystal Palace deepened the squad crisis. During a home match, fans openly booed manager Graham Potter, and the team plummeted to 19th place, deep in the relegation zone.

The team used the international break to practice set-piece defense but still conceded two goals from set plays against Tottenham. Players generally believed set-piece coach Naciş Peraci was incompetent. Potter had completely lost the dressing room's trust, and his relationship with Todibo deteriorated further. Senior management detected the internal chaos, and Potter was officially sacked on September 27.

Nuno Espírito Santo ultimately took over the team, as he was considered more likely to avoid relegation. Potter said goodbye to the entire team after training that day, scheduled training was cancelled, and Nuno Espírito Santo officially took charge. His three-year contract included strict clauses: if the team was relegated, Nuno Espírito Santo's salary would be significantly reduced, and he could be dismissed without compensation.

Due to labor disputes with his previous club, Nuno Espírito Santo could not bring his original coaching staff and had to use the club's academy coaches, with two additional coaches later joining.

Due to difficulties integrating the team, Nuno Espírito Santo made a disappointing start, failing to win in his first four league matches. Players reported that the quality of tactical preparation had declined, and video analysis and tactical meetings fell short of the standards set during Potter's tenure.

During training, the team was often divided into starting and substitute groups. James Ward-Prowse was excluded by the manager and had to train alone. Senior management expressed dissatisfaction with this approach but ultimately decided to support the manager's decision.

After a home defeat to Aston Villa on December 14, the team fell behind 17th-place Leeds United and remained trapped in the relegation zone. Nuno Espírito Santo recorded only two league victories since taking charge. Team morale was low, the club cancelled its Christmas team-building event, and no team activities had been organized since the veteran players departed.

Internal coaching staff conflicts persisted, and Nuno Espírito Santo publicly expressed distrust of the local coaches. The club discussed two solutions: first, inviting new coaches; Nuno Espírito Santo agreed to bring his former teammate Paco Jémez into the coaching staff. The club also planned to appoint a football director during the winter transfer window, but this was ultimately postponed to summer. The team subsequently lost to Manchester City and Fulham, and results continued to decline.

The night before the heavy defeat to Wolves, Nuno Espírito Santo told Callum Wilson he could leave but asked him to play in the match. At halftime, the assistant coach harshly criticized the players' poor performance, Nuno Espírito Santo intervened, and the two had a heated argument on the spot.

Despite the defeat, senior management still supported Nuno Espírito Santo but for the first time acknowledged the risk of relegation. Several new players were signed during the winter transfer window, but many refused to join due to salary reduction clauses in case of relegation.

After an FA Cup victory, the team temporarily rebounded, pulling off an upset away to Tottenham, and with Callum Wilson's extra-time winner, the club shelved plans for his departure. Meanwhile, Karen Brady considered resigning, and key player Lucas Paquetá became mentally unstable and insisted on returning to his former Brazilian club Flamengo.

The club offered the player two options but Paquetá insisted on leaving immediately, and the team eventually accepted a £36.5m transfer offer. The team originally planned to use the transfer funds to strengthen defense, and after much deliberation, decided to loan Axel Disasi and accepted his demand for guaranteed starts.

The team subsequently recorded four consecutive matches without defeat, greatly raising hopes of survival. The team departed for the Liverpool away match, but the team bus broke down, delaying the journey, and the team ultimately suffered a heavy away defeat.

In March and April, the team gradually accumulated points and even drew with title contenders Manchester City, but off-pitch chaos and disciplinary issues were rampant. Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned late after international duty and missed an FA Cup match, receiving a suspension from the club.

During the same period, Tottenham's form was poor, but West Ham failed to seize the opportunity to avoid relegation. In the penultimate match of the season, they lost to Newcastle, and fans openly criticized the players for being unworthy of wearing the team's shirt. Nuno Espírito Santo acknowledged that the fans' criticism had deeply affected the players, and the team experienced relegation for the first time in 15 years.

In that match, Todibo was substituted and clashed with the manager in frustration, threatening never to play for the team again. He was subsequently excluded from the final match squad. This player is very likely to depart this summer, and several other key players are also seeking transfers.

After relegation, the club has no choice but to sell players to raise funds, planning to recover £150m by selling 4-5 first-team regulars. Summerville, Mavropanos, and Matheus Fernandes are all subject to transfer speculation. Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in Matheus Fernandes. Fortunately, his contract lacks a release clause, giving the club the opportunity to sell him for a high transfer fee.

The club is attempting to retain Jarrod Bowen, but the England international prefers to remain in the Premier League. Unsold players will remain at the club and compete in the Championship to help the team secure promotion.

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