West Ham United rejected a substantial £45 million deadline day bid from Everton for striker Taty Castellanos. The club's decision, reported by The 4th Official, prioritised maintaining a key attacking option for their Championship campaign, which currently sees them eighth in the table with eight points from five games.
Manager Nuno Espírito Santo targets an immediate return to the Premier League, making squad stability a major factor. The offer, comprising £40 million upfront with £5 million in potential add-ons, represented a sizeable profit on the 27-year-old forward. But West Ham valued continuity over a rushed replacement that might not fit their plans, especially with the season still taking shape. Nuno Espírito Santo said: "West Ham made the sensible call."
Why was keeping Castellanos the priority?
West Ham's primary aim is promotion, and losing a proven forward like Taty Castellanos would have created a significant hole in their attack. The club's position is clearer now as they aim for an immediate return to the top flight, making every point in the 46-game Championship grind important. They have scored 11 goals so far this season while conceding seven, showing an attack that needs reliable finishers. Throwing a new, unfamiliar striker into the mix at this stage could have damaged their campaign before it had properly settled.
Choosing to keep Castellanos also avoids shifting undue pressure onto Nuno and the other attackers. With the next fixture a home match against Wrexham on September 11, having a settled forward line is a significant advantage. The decision, while turning down a major fee, was viewed internally as the safer footballing choice to protect their promotion bid.
What is the situation with Edson Álvarez?
In a separate squad decision, midfielder Edson Álvarez has also remained at the London Stadium beyond the transfer deadline. The Mexican international rejected a return to Club América before Mexico's window closes, stating he has no intention of going back to his home country and prefers to stay in Europe. Álvarez returned to West Ham after Fenerbahçe chose not to make his loan permanent.
Despite interest from clubs like Ajax, Real Sociedad, and Olympiacos, no side met West Ham's valuation before the English window shut on Tuesday. Álvarez's contract runs until June 2028, giving the club time to wait for a better opportunity. Nuno Espírito Santo has left the 29-year-old out of all four Championship matchday squads so far this term, a stance the manager supports. "West Ham United are right to hold their line and keep Álvarez outside the matchday group for now," Nuno said.
How does this affect the promotion push?
West Ham's early-season form shows they are firmly in the promotion conversation, sitting just three points behind league leaders Swansea. Their recent results, captured in our standings page, reflect a team finding its feet. The decision to retain key personnel like Castellanos signals a commitment to consistency. A demanding 46-game campaign requires players who are fully committed to the job, and introducing an unhappy or unsettled player could risk dressing-room harmony.
Selling Álvarez cheaply would have weakened West Ham's negotiating position later, while starting him ahead of players dedicated to the promotion fight could send the wrong signal. The club can now keep him fit and preserve his market value for a future move. Fans can track the squad's availability on the official squad page.
West Ham's next test is at home to Wrexham, who are currently 11th in the Championship table. The fixture on September 11 presents an opportunity to close the gap at the top.
