Super agent Jorge Mendes is set to have a big influence on West Ham transfers behind the scenes after the departure of Kyle Macaulay.<\/p>\n
One of the big reasons Nuno Espirito Santo<\/a> is the head coach of West Ham<\/a> right now is down to a dispute over transfers and super agent Jorge Mendes<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Portuguese fell out with Forest chief Evangelos Marinakis when he brought Edu in from Arsenal as sporting director to oversee recruitment.<\/p>\n The Brazilian is known to work with Kia Joorabchian \u2013 a name Hammers fans will remember all too well from the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano saga, not to mention a doomed takeover bid for West Ham.<\/p>\n Edu\u2019s arrival meant less of a say in transfers for Nuno and his agent Mendes, who is arguably the biggest in the game.<\/p>\n Nuno went public over his bust-up with Marinakis and a few weeks later he was taking over from Graham Potter at West Ham having been controversially shown the door at the City Ground.<\/p>\n Nuno has impressed already in east London.<\/p>\n But there is absolutely no doubt he needs reinforcements as soon as the January transfer window<\/a> opens.<\/p>\n Hammers News exclusively revealed in mid-September that West Ham met with Nuno about taking the job<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was also revealed that Nuno wanted assurances from the Hammers board that he and Mendes would have a big say on signings.<\/p>\n West Ham announced the expected departure of head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay this week.<\/p>\n The Hammers hierarchy made one key thing perfectly clear about Macaulay<\/a> when explaining the decision to let him go.<\/p>\n Mendes is Nuno\u2019s right-hand man when it comes to transfers. <\/p>\n West Ham fans will remember only too well the throng of top players that enabled Wolves to sign.<\/p>\n Some of the very best players in world football are represented by Mendes \u2013 none of whom are going to be lured to the London Stadium anytime soon of course.<\/p>\n West Ham\u2019s \u00a340m summer signing Mateus Fernandes is a Mendes client.<\/p>\n But his stable is huge and wide-ranging in talent levels, meaning there are a host of more realistic targets the Hammers can look at for the winter window.<\/p>\n Here are three exciting Mendes clients the Hammers could realistically sign in January.<\/p>\n It has been confirmed by top sources connected to West Ham that a striker is a top priority in the next window.<\/p>\n But a centre-back is also a necessity while more cover in midfield and on the wings will be important as West Ham are a Jarrod Bowen or Crysencio Summerville injury away from potential disaster.<\/p>\n West Ham will surely look to sign at least two or three players in January as their squad already only comprises 22 players.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s been made clear the likes of James Ward-Prowse have no future in east London.<\/p>\n According to Transfermarkt, Mendes\u2019 Gestifute agency has 157 players on its roster worth a total of nearly \u00a32bn.<\/p>\n Bright Arrey-Mbi, centre-back, Braga<\/p>\n A completely new name entered the frame for West Ham on deadline day in the summer in the shape of Braga centre-back Bright Arrey-Mbi.<\/p>\n