Scott Parker has taken charge of a West Ham team that is displaying attacking prowess but struggling with consistency. The Hammers scored 36 goals in 14 Championship matches before Nuno Espírito Santo’s departure on November 3, leaving the club in eighth place. Since Parker’s appointment, he has managed just one point from his initial two outings.
The new manager saw his side draw 3-3 against Cardiff, where Jack Moylan scored a first-half hat-trick. This was followed by a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Blackburn, marking West Ham’s first away loss of the season. Goals from Andri Gudjohnsen and Dapo Afolayan proved disappointing for Parker, as his team held a significant advantage in possession.
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Parker’s tactical adjustments stood out, as former boss Nuno preferred a two-striker setup. In contrast, West Ham deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation against Cardiff, where Mukasa, Engels, and Kilman initiated a comeback from a 3-0 deficit. At Ewood Park, Parker switched to a 4-4-1-1, assigning distinct roles to his forwards.
Joël Piroe, on loan from Leeds, who secured the 2024/25 Golden Boot with 19 goals, took the lead against Blackburn. Pablo, the 22-year-old Brazilian acquired in January, has scored once in nine league appearances. Captain Jarrod Bowen has found the net seven times, while Konstantinos Mavropanos added five, demonstrating West Ham’s diverse scoring capabilities.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Taty Castellanos of West Ham United during the Sky Bet Championship 2026/27 match between Millwall and West Ham United at The Den on September 19, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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The situation remains critical for Taty Castellanos, who started at Cardiff and assisted Piroe’s goal from the bench at Blackburn. The 28-year-old has recorded one goal and four assists across 14 league matches but has fallen short of his expected scoring metrics by two goals by late October. Though his movement and link play have impressed, critiques focus on his finishing and physical gameplay.
Reports from El Intransigente, citing Sport Witness, state that River Plate manager Leonardo Ponzio has identified Castellanos as a priority target for the 2027 transfer window. Currently, he is under contract until 2030 and earns £75,000 weekly, a salary that River may struggle to afford. No formal offer has been presented, and Soy del Millo reports that River would require West Ham’s support for either a loan arrangement with a fee or a purchase agreement involving a percentage of his contract.
Should West Ham permit Castellanos to join River Plate in January?
Not under River’s conditions. Castellanos contributes link play and assists that cannot be compensated for by Pablo’s single league goal. A loan might bring in an uncertain fee and likely require West Ham to cover part of his wages. A deal involving a percentage of the reported £25 million fee appears insufficient. Should River propose an amount close to that figure, West Ham should consider it, as defending one league goal on £75,000 weekly is challenging. Otherwise, retaining him would be prudent, as losing him in January could jeopardize their promotion ambitions, relying heavily on a single loan striker.
