West Ham United cruised to a 6-0 victory over Lincoln City on Tuesday night and are looking every bit the favourites to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
The Hammers have now scored 29 goals in their opening ten Championship matches, eight more than any other side.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side bounced back emphatically from their frustrating draw with Queens Park Rangers, with Lincoln reduced to nine men inside the opening 23 minutes.
Konstantinos Mavropanos broke the deadlock shortly before half-time, before Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Felipe, Edvin Austbø and Tomáš Souček got on the scoresheet as West Ham matched their record away league victory.
Speaking after the game, Nuno was delighted with his side’s response and believes the result will provide a major confidence boost ahead of Saturday’s top of the table trip to Swansea City.
“There were so many positives inside of the game, good performances, players coming back, scoring, so it’s a huge boost of confidence,” the Portuguese manager told West Ham TV.
“So it’s a positive night.”
He added: “We know that football is full of surprises, so what we have to do is keep this togetherness, this team spirit that we have.
“That is what, for me, is more important and what can keep us growing and improving.”
However, while Nuno was pleased with his squad’s performance, Edson Alvarez was once again overlooked, with the Mexican midfielder not even named among the substitutes for the trip to Lincoln.
Edson Alvarez’s agent holds meeting amid West Ham exit speculation
Alvarez has been frozen out of Nuno’s plans this season, failing to make a single Championship appearance and featuring for just 75 minutes in the League Cup.
The 28-year-old has now been left out of 11 consecutive matchday squads following another snub at Lincoln, and a January departure is becoming an increasingly realistic possibility.
According to reports relayed by Sport Witness, Valencia sporting director Braulio Vazquez recently held a meeting with Tarek Sebiat, the European representative of Alvarez’s agency.
The Spanish club are reportedly considering a move for the West Ham midfielder in January, with fellow Mexican international Erik Lira also on their radar.
Valencia manager Javier Aguirre could prove influential in any potential deal, having previously worked with Alvarez while in charge of the Mexico national team.
Aguirre is understood to appreciate the midfielder’s versatility, with Alvarez capable of playing both in front of the defence and at centre-back.
However, Valencia’s financial situation could complicate matters, with the La Liga outfit reportedly only able to pursue a loan deal rather than a permanent transfer.
Alvarez joined West Ham from Ajax in 2023 and was initially a key figure in the Hammers’ midfield, but his fortunes have changed dramatically under Nuno.
With West Ham flying high in the Championship despite his absence, the Mexican faces an uncertain future in east London, and Valencia’s emerging interest could provide an escape route when the transfer window reopens.
