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

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has warned that his squad still lacks firepower, even after landing Celtic midfielder Arne Engels for a Championship record £22m.

The 20-year-old becomes the fourth new arrival since relegation from the Premier League, a clear sign the club is trying to rebuild with urgency rather than nostalgia. Engels joins Brighton defender Joel Veltman, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Manor Solomon and Keiber Lamadrid, whose loan from Deportivo La Guaira was made permanent in January.

Yet Nuno’s message, after watching his side throw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Burnley in their Championship opener, was blunt: it is not enough.

"We need players, especially in the offensive part of the team," he said, the frustration of Turf Moor still fresh. West Ham’s bright start had faded, the lack of depth in attacking areas exposed once Burnley wrestled back control.

Nuno has tried to improvise. "We have young lads, we have options of double full-back, like we did in the last game and in this game," he explained. It’s a tactical workaround, not a long-term plan. "But we need more bodies in the offensive part of the team."

Engels arrives with numbers that command attention. At Celtic he scored 17 goals and delivered 22 assists in 100 appearances, a consistent creative spark in Glasgow now tasked with lifting a side battling to escape the Championship.

"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," Nuno said. The manager sees him as a key piece in a midfield that has been stretched and reshaped since relegation.

The picture should sharpen 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, pointing to a spine that could yet look imposing at this level.

Behind the scenes, the pace has picked up. "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."

Engels is a statement signing. For Nuno, he can’t be the last.