Dan James to West Ham? The Championship move that suddenly makes sense | OneFootball

West Ham should look to sign Leeds United winger Dan James as an Adama Traore replacement this summer

West Ham United have already made some key decisions in terms of playing personnel, with one exit in particular certainly requiring a replacement this summer.

Relegation to the second tier for the first time in 14 years is a far from ideal scenario for West Ham to find themselves in, but it is indeed where they are at right now, and they must face the challenges ahead of them head-on.

Star players, such as Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes, and Crysencio Summerville, are bound to attract interest this summer, and the Irons will have done an incredible job to keep a hold of all three by the end of the window and are in a healthy financial position.

Nuno Espirito Santo will know exactly what he needs to do to get the East London outfit back to the top-flight at the first time of asking, having previously won promotion to the Premier League with Wolverhampton Wanderers back in 2018.

The Portuguese boss will have a huge say in the incomings and outgoings at the London Stadium, and has already decided to allow Spanish winger Adama Traore to leave the club at the end of his current deal.

Traore, 30, joined the Irons on a short-term deal from Fulham in January, but made just nine appearances without contributing to a goal, and following his exit, Nuno should look to Leeds United for his replacement.

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With Traore heading out the exit door, and Bowen and Summerville linked with moves away, there is a serious lack of options available on the wings in the West Ham ranks heading into the next campaign.

Nuno did prioritise using wing-backs over wingers, hence Traore's meagre 115 minutes of league football for the Irons, and whether he plans to continue utilising a similar shape and formation in the second tier, at this stage, remains to be seen.

Though with West Ham almost certainly heading into every other game as favourites, Nuno should consider switching to a more conventional back four, and make use of the wide attacking talent they will likely possess next campaign.

A move for Leeds United's Daniel James ought to be on the cards then, with the Welsh international having suffered a serious depletion of game time at Elland Road following promotion to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke handed James, 28, a fresh four-year deal at the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign, meaning his contract in West Yorkshire isn't due to expire until the summer of 2029.

Despite this, the German boss opted to shift to a back three formation with wing-backs, similarly to that of West Ham's shape, meaning James' minutes were slashed as a result, and with no obvious place for him in the side, he managed just 550 minutes across 19 league appearances the entire campaign.

Across Leeds' last two years in the Championship, James was an integral figure on the flank, scoring 25 and assisting 16 in 76 league games for the club, contributing over a goal every other game.

His ability in the second tier has never been in doubt, and he has proven that he is more than capable of playing a role in the Premier League for both Leeds and, previously, Manchester United, but with no obvious place in the side at Elland Road, he could move on this summer.

Should Nuno decide to make use of wingers in the second tier, James would be an excellent option, and at 28, with 65 international appearances, 125 Premier League appearances, and 109 Championship appearances to his name, there will be few better options on the market this summer.

What Leeds' position on the winger, at this stage, remains to be seen, but with no obvious place in Farke's current set up, he could be available this summer, as West Ham should pounce.

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Nuno has already had a lot of time to ponder what his plans for the West Ham squad are for next season, and will almost certainly already have a clear vision in mind for what he wants his side to look like.

Whether he will be stick with his preferred wing-back system, or revert to a back-four system, at this stage, remains to be seen, but should he utilise wingers at the London Stadium next campaign, James would be a fantastic option.

Time will tell what the Portuguese boss has in mind for next season, and if wingers are a priority on the shopping list, James simply must be considered.