Harry Redknapp rates West Ham's relegation chances after Nuno Espirito Santo appointment

Harry Redknapp has been discussing West Ham’s chances going forward after a turbulent period to start the new season. The Hammers were hoping to put a forgettable season of last behind them, but five defeats in six games across all competitions cost Graham Potter his job, and Nuno Espirito Santo is now the man in charge.

Santo had only just arrived when he saw his new team draw with Everton away from home on Monday night, and all eyes are now on this weekend’s tricky clash with title hopefuls Arsenal.

With Santo having a reputable record, it’s hoped West Ham can push on from here, but there has been some frustration from fans over the way David Sullivan has handled the situation. Sullivan held off on sacking Potter, allowed him to take his pre-match press conference on Friday and then sacked him on Saturday, two days before the club were due to play on Monday night.

Speaking to that frustration, Redknapp has predicted that Sullivan will sell up to a big-money entity in the not too distant future while also predicting that the Hammers will dodge the drop this season.

“One day, Sullivan will sell up, he will sell his shares to multi-billionaire Saudi Arabians or multi-billionaire Americans,” he told GiveMeSport. “That’s what you need on board now to be able to compete at the very highest level.

“They’ll be OK this season. I don’t see them going down. The new left-back (El Hadji Malick Diouf) looks a good lad, and they have Jarrod Bowen, who is outstanding. But they need a striker and look weak at the back. It’s about recruitment.”

Santo on the task ahead

Speaking when he was appointed by the Hammers, Santo said: “First of all, what is important is that now we know each other, mainly us, the squad, the players. This is what is more important now. We are here working. We started yesterday (Saturday) realising that this is a big, big Club.

“There are expectations, but before all the expectations, all the achievements that we desire, that we want to do, we must create a platform of knowledge, of coming closer to the fans, the team and the fans. And from there we can start building.”

On his responsibilities as head coach, he added: “I’m trying to, as soon as possible, know all the players. I think I know them better than they know me, because it’s like that. We are coaches and we try to take all the info that we can about the players. Many of them, we faced each other before and now it’s preparing for the game, a tough game against Everton. Day by day, and you’ll listen to me many times speaking about this but it’s what I believe, it’s day by day, each day has to be the best one of us.”

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