West Ham are facing something of a nightmare situation thanks to their Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.
The Hammers have made a very average start to the new season but Nottingham Forest are flying.
West Ham have won one, drawn one and lost two of their four Premier League games so far under Julen Lopetegui.
Nottingham Forest meanwhile are unbeaten, with two wins and two draws from theirs.
While West Ham were salvaging a 1-1 draw they barely deserved at Fulham, Forest were pulling off a memorable 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield.
Callum Hudson-Odoi scored the winner as Nottingham Forest shocked Liverpool by inflicting their first defeat of the Arne Slot era.
Forest put West Ham in nightmare position
West Ham fans have been picking the bones out of their draw and disappointing overall performance.
Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez failed to impress in midfield for the Hammers.
So it has not gone unnoticed that the midfielder they were happy to let leave on loan impressed for Nottingham Forest.
The Irons spent £30m to sign James Ward-Prowse last summer. He contributed 18 goals and assists in his debut season and always worked hard for the team.
There is no denying the argument is strong that Ward-Prowse offers little in open play.
And it was so typical that the man regarded as one of the world’s best free-kick takers did not score one for West Ham.
Forest leave Hammers to face wounded animal Liverpool
Ward-Prowse was offloaded on loan to Nottingham Forest for the season.
The deal is a straight loan. But if Ward-Prowse does well at the City Ground, then a permanent deal will more than likely be on the cards.
Carlos Soler has come in as Ward-Prowse’s replacement. His West Ham deal is also a straight loan for the season.
Now Nottingham Forest have put West Ham in a nightmare position in more ways than one.
Firstly, by inflicting a shock defeat on Liverpool at Anfield, Forest have ensured that West Ham will now be facing a wounded animal when they go there on Wednesday night in the Carbao Cup.
Facing Liverpool on their home patch is always daunting for West Ham – who have just one win there since 1963.
Throw in the fact it’s a night game under the lights and Slot will be looking for a big response and those not attending may be watching between their fingers.
Nottingham Forest have poked the bear and left West Ham to face the consequences.
But it’s not the only headache Forest have given the Hammers.
If Ward-Prowse continues to do well and Lopetegui does not get a tune out of Soucek or Soler then big questions will be asked about that decision.
Usually when a player goes out on loan it is the parent club who hold all the cards regarding any negotiations over a permanent deal.
Why Forest could hold the cards over Ward-Prowse
But Soler is on £240k per week at PSG with three years to run on his contract there.
As such the top spokesman at the club told Hammers News last week that a permanent West Ham deal for Soler is extremely unlikely.
At the same time, Hammers insider Sean Whetstone has revealed that West Ham’s big spending of recent years may mean the club is forced to raise money through player sales next summer.
West Ham are the Premier League’s fifth biggest spenders since 2022.
Another £155m was committed to transfers this summer.
So if Soler does well, West Ham likely face the hugely frustrating position of not being able to make his deal permanent.
But if Ward-Prowse continues to shine and Nottingham Forest want to make his move permanent, they know West Ham need money.
That means Forest will be confident of negotiating a knock-down fee for the midfielder.
And that will leave West Ham in a difficult position where they lose money on Ward-Prowse and can’t sign Soler.
The more immediate concern, though – thanks to Forest – is a fired up Liverpool at Anfield in three days’ time.
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