West Ham United have the resources to build one of the strongest squads ever assembled for a Championship promotion campaign. The West Ham dream XI combines the senior players who have committed to staying with four ambitious additions funded by the sales of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville.
Tottenham paid £85million for Fernandes before Al Hilal agreed a package worth up to £65million for Summerville. Those two departures alone could provide West Ham with £150million to reshape Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad.
The challenge is no longer simply raising money. West Ham must turn the windfall into a balanced starting side without losing the players already capable of dominating at Championship level.
Planet Football’s proposed West Ham XI includes Fikayo Tomori, Gustavo Sá and Simon Adingra alongside established figures such as Jarrod Bowen and Tomáš Souček. It is an ambitious team, but not an impossible one given the club’s financial position.
West Ham dream XI starts with a settled goalkeeper
Goalkeeper: Mads Hermansen
Hermansen should begin the campaign as West Ham’s first-choice goalkeeper. His return to the team during the second half of last season coincided with a significant improvement in performances.
The Denmark international also won the club’s Save of the Season award. He has publicly indicated that he wants to help West Ham recover from relegation, giving Nuno valuable certainty in a key position.
West Ham may still try to move Alphonse Areola from the wage bill. However, they do not need to spend a large part of their transfer budget on another goalkeeper if Hermansen remains.
Right-back: Kyle Walker-Peters
Walker-Peters offers reliability, positional discipline and extensive experience of English football. He also appears more likely to stay than Aaron Wan-Bissaka, whose future remains uncertain.
The 29-year-old joined West Ham on a free transfer in 2025 and signed a three-year contract. His ability to operate on either side would also help Nuno manage a demanding 46-game league campaign.
Left-back: El Hadji Malick Diouf
Diouf remains one of West Ham’s most exciting long-term players. His delivery and willingness to attack space could become a major weapon against deep Championship defences.
The Senegal international still needs to improve defensively. A full season under Nuno could provide the structure he needs without the constant scrutiny of Premier League football.
West Ham also have Ollie Scarles and Ezra Mayers available. Their presence means the club should resist selling Diouf unless an exceptional proposal arrives.
Tomori would transform the West Ham defence
Centre-back: Konstantinos Mavropanos
Mavropanos became a more consistent defender after Nuno’s arrival. His strength, aerial ability and willingness to defend aggressively should make him a dominant Championship centre-back.
Interest from Germany could complicate the situation. However, West Ham are in a strong enough financial position to reject ordinary offers rather than allowing another established starter to leave.
The Greece international also scored during the opening pre-season draw at Southend. His involvement throughout the summer suggests Nuno continues to view him as an important player.
Centre-back: Fikayo Tomori
Tomori would be the statement defensive signing. West Ham previously benefited from Axel Disasi’s loan spell, but the Chelsea defender does not want to play in the Championship.
Tomori would offer recovery pace, experience and confidence in possession. Those qualities would allow West Ham to defend higher and sustain pressure against teams expected to sit deep.
The England international would require a significant fee and salary. Yet the sales of Fernandes and Summerville give West Ham the ability to explore a deal which would normally be unrealistic for a second-tier club.
Nuno also has Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and several academy defenders available. Even so, Tomori and Mavropanos would arguably provide the strongest promotion-ready partnership.
Souček and Potts provide balance in midfield
Central midfield: Tomáš Souček
Souček’s decision to remain gives West Ham experience, leadership and a reliable goal threat. He has already made more than 250 appearances for the club and understands the demands placed on senior players.
His lack of mobility can become an issue in open Premier League matches. The Championship may suit his strengths more naturally, particularly when West Ham dominate possession and win frequent set-pieces.
Jarrod Bowen, Souček and Hermansen have all committed themselves to the promotion campaign. Keeping that senior core should prevent the type of damaging exodus often experienced by relegated clubs.
Central midfield: Freddie Potts
Fernandes’ departure creates an opportunity for Potts. The academy graduate already understands Championship football following his successful loan spell with Portsmouth.
Potts offers energy, discipline and a strong connection with the club. He may not replicate Fernandes’ ability immediately, but he could provide the platform for West Ham’s more creative players.
Mohamadou Kanté and Lewis Orford also impressed during the 5-0 win at Stevenage. West Ham’s academy players made a major second-half contribution, with Orford scoring an excellent third goal.
The club may still recruit another midfielder. Sheffield United’s Sydie Peck and Celtic’s Arne Engels would provide competition, but Potts deserves a genuine opportunity during pre-season.
Attacking midfield: Gustavo Sá
West Ham need a creative player capable of operating between midfield and attack. Sá has the technical profile to fill that vacancy while also fitting the club’s plan to recruit younger players with resale value.
Reports in Portugal placed the proposed fee at around €20million. However, the expected medical and announcement have not yet materialised, leaving uncertainty around the transfer.
West Ham have already agreed terms in principle to sign Gustavo Sá, while later reports suggested the move had been delayed rather than completed. He should only be included in the dream XI once the club turns negotiations into a confirmed signing.
Bowen and Adingra would give West Ham promotion pace
Right wing: Jarrod Bowen
Bowen is the most important player in the proposed team. West Ham can replace individual qualities elsewhere, but finding another captain capable of scoring consistently from the right would be extremely difficult.
His decision to stay changes the outlook of the entire campaign. Bowen possesses the quality to decide tight matches and should be among the Championship’s outstanding players.
He created Taty Castellanos’ goal against Stevenage with a precise pass through the defence. His combination with the Argentine could become central to Nuno’s attacking plan.
Left wing: Simon Adingra
Replacing Summerville must now become a priority. West Ham have secured a package worth up to £65million from Al Hilal, but the squad has lost its most natural left-sided ball carrier.
Adingra would provide speed, unpredictability and experience of English football. He can attack defenders directly while also moving inside to create space for Diouf.
The winger’s situation at Sunderland could offer West Ham an opening. His ceiling may be lower than some of the more ambitious names linked with the club, but he would immediately improve the starting team.
Ruben Vargas would represent a more expensive alternative. Dwight McNeil has also been discussed, although he would offer a different and less explosive profile.
Striker: Taty Castellanos
Castellanos should lead the line if West Ham can keep him away from Everton and AC Milan. Seven goals in 22 appearances represented a respectable return after his January move from Lazio.
He also scored during the victory at Stevenage, finishing calmly after Bowen released him behind the defence. His movement and aggression could cause major problems at Championship level.
Taty Castellanos is now considered more likely to stay than leave West Ham. The striker is under contract until 2030, with the club holding an option for another year.
Selling him would create another expensive recruitment problem. Retaining Castellanos allows West Ham to spend the Summerville money on creativity and defensive quality instead.
How the complete West Ham XI could look
West Ham dream XI:
Mads Hermansen; Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Fikayo Tomori, El Hadji Malick Diouf; Freddie Potts, Tomáš Souček; Jarrod Bowen, Gustavo Sá, Simon Adingra; Taty Castellanos.
The proposed side combines seven current players with four possible additions. Tomori would strengthen the defence, Sá would add creativity and Adingra would replace the pace lost through Summerville’s departure.
It would also preserve a strong core around Hermansen, Mavropanos, Souček, Bowen and Castellanos. Those players understand Nuno’s methods and should be capable of performing above Championship level.
There are risks. West Ham have not completed deals for Tomori, Sá or Adingra, while Mavropanos, Diouf and Castellanos could still attract offers.
The club’s financial position means those departures are no longer necessary. West Ham should only sell another important player when the proposal is too strong to reject.
Nuno does not need eleven new signings. He needs three or four additions who improve the first team, backed by academy players capable of carrying the load across a long season.
The £150million windfall has created an unusual opportunity. Spending it intelligently could turn a relegated squad into an overwhelming promotion favourite.
