West Ham Search for Paquetá Replacement in East London 2026

Key Points

• Departure of Lucas Paquetá: The departure of Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paquetá to Flamengo in January left West Ham United without a primary creative attacking midfielder.
• Loss of Mateus Fernandes: Midfielder Mateus Fernandes was initially considered an interim replacement, but Tottenham Hotspur completed an £85 million transfer following relegation, removing him as an option.
• Tactical Dependency: Manager Nuno Espírito Santo employs a tactical system that relies heavily on a central number 10 to open passing lanes and distribute play.
• Pre-Season Trialing: A pre-season 1-1 draw against Southend United at Roots Hall highlighted the creative deficit, forcing Nuno to test multiple emergency solutions.
• Midfield Experiments: Experiments included deploying Keiber Lamadrid centrally and on the left, advancing deep-lying midfielder Lewis Orford, and evaluating academy product George Earthy.
• Positional Out of Possession: Natural forward Pablo Felipe was fielded behind central striker Taty Castellanos, a role that highlighted his preference for a traditional number 9 position.
• Transfer Market Search: West Ham United technical director Nils Koppen and Nuno Espírito Santo are actively assessing external targets to fill the attacking midfield void.

East London (East London Times) July 21, 2026 – West Ham United are actively seeking a primary attacking midfielder following the departure of Lucas Paquetá to Flamengo in January, with pre-season fixtures exposing a tactical hole in manager Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad setup.

As reported by Green Street Hammers, Nuno’s strategic blueprint requires a central number 10 to link play and create scoring opportunities, a role that remains unfulfilled heading into the upcoming domestic campaign.

Why Is West Ham United’s Search For A Number 10 So Urgent?

As reported by Green Street Hammers, the departure of Lucas Paquetá created an immediate vacancy in the squad’s central attacking unit.

While initial expectations centered on Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes bearing the creative responsibility in the interim, Tottenham Hotspur intervened following relegation, securing Fernandes in an £85 million transfer deal. This move eliminated West Ham’s primary internal continuity option.

As detailed by Grand Pinnacle Tribune, the team’s tactical limitations were demonstrated during a pre-season 1-1 draw against Southend United at Roots Hall.

Nuno Espírito Santo fielded a starting lineup that combined senior players with academy talent, revealing ongoing challenges in central ball distribution and key chance creation.

How Did Nuno Espírito Santo Experiment With His Squad Against Southend United?

As reported by Green Street Hammers, Nuno utilized three distinct tactical setups during the pre-season draw against Southend United to evaluate potential solutions for the number 10 role:

As noted by Grand Pinnacle Tribune, Venezuelan international Keiber Lamadrid was deployed both centrally alongside Kante and across the left flank. Lamadrid produced an active performance, striking the post with a powerful volley and delivering a slide-rule pass to set up forward Pablo Felipe.

Despite his energetic display and physical development over the summer break, Lamadrid remains naturally suited to wide attacking positions rather than acting as an orthodox central distributor.

As reported by Green Street Hammers, academy midfielder Lewis Orford was positioned higher up the pitch to support central transitions.

However, Orford’s profile is naturally tailored to a deep-lying midfield role, limiting his efficiency when operating in tight spaces behind the opposition defensive line.

As detailed by Grand Pinnacle Tribune, midfielder George Earthy made his first appearance for the club in a year following a period in the Championship.

Although Earthy logged two separate spells in the second tier, Green Street Hammers reported that his performances in training have questioned his long-term alignment with Nuno’s system.

Why Is Pablo Felipe Operating Out Of His Natural Position?

As reported by Green Street Hammers, natural forward Pablo Felipe was tested in a deeper role directly behind central striker Taty Castellanos during pre-season play.

As highlighted by Grand Pinnacle Tribune, Felipe drew a sharp save from Southend United goalkeeper Joe Duncan, but his overall movement underscored his preference for traditional forward play.

As noted by Green Street Hammers, the number 10 role demands a player capable of opening passing lanes and distributing play effectively—attributes distinct from Felipe’s strengths as a central finisher.

As reported by Green Street Hammers, returning Felipe to a dedicated number 9 role—either rotating with Castellanos or providing options off the bench—offers greater structural balance.

Nuno Espírito Santo has also evaluated transitioning to a two-forward system, though the manager maintains that a natural creative playmaker remains essential regardless of the chosen formation.

What Is The Background Behind West Ham United’s Search For A Creative Playmaker?

The requirement for a central playmaker stems from West Ham United’s tactical restructuring following the departure of Lucas Paquetá in January 2026.

During his tenure in East London, Paquetá served as the team’s chief creative hub, driving ball progression through the central third and linking defense with attack.

His return to Flamengo left a structural void that affected the team’s offensive efficiency during the second half of the previous season.

Efforts to address the position internally were complicated by summer transfer developments. The departure of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur for £85 million reduced squad depth in central areas, leaving technical director Nils Koppen and the recruitment department to identify external targets.

The recent pre-season fixture against Southend United provided the coaching staff with a final venue to assess internal alternatives before finalizing transfer priorities.

How Will The Absence Of A Natural Playmaker Impact West Ham United’s Squad And Supporters?

For West Ham United’s squad, entering the competitive season without an established number 10 risks placing increased burden on wide forwards and central strikers like Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe.

Without a dedicated central distributor to open passing lanes, the team’s build-up play may become predictable, forcing reliance on individual wing play or set-piece opportunities—such as Konstantinos Mavropanos’s headed goal from a Jarrod Bowen corner against Southend United.

For the club’s supporters and technical staff, the development underscores the importance of the ongoing transfer window.

If technical director Nils Koppen and Nuno Espírito Santo secure a suitable replacement before the transfer deadline, the squad can maintain its preferred 4-2-3-1 tactical structure.

Conversely, failure to recruit a natural central playmaker could require sustained tactical adjustments, including transitions to a direct two-forward system or modified midfield rotations throughout the early stages of the domestic campaign.