The Nuno Espírito Santo era has well and truly begun at West Ham United.
Granted, the Portuguese coach didn’t win his first game in charge, but a spirited fightback saw his side share the points with Everton.
More importantly, there were several impressive performances from his new players, suggesting that better results could be around the corner.
One of the standouts was, of course, Jarrod Bowen, but another was someone who could be West Ham’s best signing since the Englishman.
Bowen's game vs Everton
Even when the rest of the team were flattering to deceive under Graham Potter last season and at the start of this one, Bowen was still putting in good performances.
Appearances
36
Minutes
3148′
Goals
14
Assists
10
Goal Involvements per Match
1.5
Minutes per Goal Involvement
131.16′
The Englishman ended last season with a tally of 14 goals and ten assists in 36 appearances, and has already racked up a tally of three goals and an assist this season.
In fact, it was the former Hull City gem who got the Hammers back in the game on Monday, as he fired off a brilliant shot from the right of the penalty area that flew past Jordan Pickford.
Moreover, even though it wasn’t his best performance for the Irons, it was an overall strong showing from the 28-year-old.
Like Crysencio Summerville on the left, he was a threat throughout the game, getting up and down the pitch and causing problems for the Toffees.
However, there was another starter that night who was even more impressive than Bowen, someone who could end up being the club’s best signing since the Englishman.
The West Ham star who could be their best signing since Bowen
Encouragingly for Nuno, several players put in strong showings against Everton, including Summerville, Max Kilman, and even Soungoutou Magassa.
Chalkboard
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However, when it comes to someone who has the potential to become West Ham’s best signing since Bowen, it’s impossible to ignore El Hadji Malick Diouf.
The former Slavia Prague gem played like a man possessed against the Toffees, fulfilling his defensive duties while also surging up and down the pitch with “explosive acceleration,” as one analyst put it.
More than that, though, he kept on firing incredible cross after incredible cross into extremely dangerous areas, and it was one of these that led to Bowen’s goal.
On another night, the 20-year-old could have racked up two or three assists, and from what he’s shown earlier this season, he’s going to end up getting plenty.
For example, in the five games leading up to Monday night, the Ziguinchor-born dynamo had already racked up three assists: one against Chelsea, one against Nottingham Forest, and one against Crystal Palace.
There is still plenty of the campaign to come, but the Senegalese ace is already making waves in England, so much so that one analyst has already made the bold claim that he’s “one of the best fullbacks in the league.”
With this in mind, it doesn’t feel too absurd to suggest that the incredibly exciting summer arrival could end up being the club’s best signing since Bowen.
After all, the others who could have that crown include Lucas Paqueta, who can be unreal when he’s on his day, and that’s not every game, or Mohammed Kudus, but he struggled in his second campaign and then ruined his reputation by joining Tottenham Hotspur.
Ultimately, things seem to be on the up for West Ham, and it looks like Diouf could end up being one of the signings of the season.
