West Ham United

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Leeds at The London Stadium(16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the fitness of his squad returning from the international break, Nuno said: "Assessing players. International break - positive that many of our players achieved big things. Some not so happy, some returned with issues. We are assessing."

• Asked specifically about the fitness of Crysencio Summerville, who has missed the Hammers' last two Premier League games with a calf problem, he added: "All of us trying to get him fit as soon as possible. Assessing him day-by-day to see how he improves. If he feels good then we take decisions."

• Nuno emphasised the work done over the international break with the players who remained with the club has been "positive".

• On balancing an FA Cup run with the Premier League relegation battle: "We play and prepare for one game at a time. We are preparing for the FA Cup as best as we can so we can go through. We cannot think about the Wolves game. First we play the game against Leeds, preparing well, competing well and then move forward."

• What would it mean to lead West Ham to their first FA Cup semi-final in 20 years?: "We have to play the game. It's always the same. We know what it means for our fans, it has been great for us to play at home. We expect support, we know it is a big night. Let's enjoy it and play."

• More on the fans: "We know they are going to be there for us. The help from the fans to the team has been great. We cannot thank them enough."

• On the defeat at Elland Road earlier this season: "It's been a while, both teams have changed a lot. We know it will be difficult but that game is too far away to analyse. We learn from experiences, there is always something to take on board to try and ratify."

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West Ham United forward Crysencio Summerville is being monitored by Everton, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Marseille and Napoli. (Teamtalk), external

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We asked for your views on which is more important to you, FA Cup glory or Premier League status?

Here are some of your comments:

Rob: I believe we can do both. But for me the FA Cup will be amazing. The Premier League will always be there, and if we do get relegated we will be back. We aren't contenders for the league title, but win the cup, get relegated and win the Championship next season. I would be OK with that.

Mike: Very simple order of preference. 1: Stay in the Premier League. 2: Send Spurs down instead. 3: Add a little icing to to the top of the cake with a cheeky lifting of the FA Cup.

Conor: It surely has to be Premier League survival. What's an FA Cup worth to us in the Championship?

Ray: Premier survival is paramount. Give fringe players the chance to improve in the cup. Play with abandon.

James: Putting finance over a cup win here but staying in the Premier League is and must be the priority and if an FA Cup win goes in tandem with that then fantastic!

Tim: Give the FA Cup as much of an effort as possible. Don't mess with Mr In-between or you end up regretting not giving it a go.

John: League survival, it's that simple. When/if we go down then it won't be a quick recovery back to the Premier League. It will be a fire sale of any player assets and Sullivan will still want £600M to sell up. Dream on.

Mike: Go out to win FA cup. Wins give you momentum which we have at the moment. Players can get injured at home, etc. Keep the same team playing, win the cup and stay up - Europe next year.

Holly Turbutt
Fan contributor

As we approach the FA Cup quarter-final, the same question keeps coming up.

Would West Ham fans choose FA Cup glory or Premier League survival? And it's a difficult one because we'd all love something to celebrate right now, but the question is - at what cost?

So this is the first time that a lot of fans, including myself, could see an FA Cup win. And as fans, this is the kind of moment that we live for.

We all remember the joy that the Conference League win brought us, even if it was followed by some disappointing seasons. But I'd argue that focusing too much on the FA Cup right now is pretty likely to get us relegated and bring a whole new level of misery.

We don't have a huge amount of squad rotation we can do without weakening our side, and if we end up getting injuries or playing tired players in the Premier League, that could be the fine margin that ends up sending us down, which scares me.

We've already seen Crysencio Summerville, who we expected to play a key role in our battle to stay up, get injured in the FA Cup so we've seen how these extra games can put us at risk of losing essential players.

So weighing up the pros and cons of each, I would be so happy to see us push for an FA Cup win, but I don't think we can run the risk of our starting XI just being knackered and dropping points in the league as a result.

I would love to see us try to balance the two, but I don't think we've got the luxury of doing anything at the expense of Premier League survival at the moment, so that means Nuno Espirito Santo has a big job on his hands to rotate our squad in a way that keeps us competitive in the FA Cup, while also giving players enough rest for our Premier League survival push.

It's all about focusing on staying up at the moment and if we can manage to progress in the FA Cup too, that would be an incredible highlight in what's been a rather stressful season.

We want your views on this subject too - which is more important to you, FA Cup glory or Premier League status?

Get in touch with your views here

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Rangers could bank a record fee for Emmanuel Fernandez this summer with the 24-year-old attracting interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, West Ham United, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. (TeamTalk), external

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West Ham and Nottingham Forest will face competition from AC Milan for the signing of Bologna's Argentine forward Santiago Castro, 21, this summer. (Tuttomercatoweb - in Italian), external

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Northern Ireland teenager Joel Kerr has signed his first professional contract at West Ham United.

The 17-year-old forward joined the London outfit from Glentoran's academy in 2025, making 20 appearances and netting eight goals at u18 level.

Kerr has captained Northern Ireland at under-17 level, including during their Uefa European U17 Championship qualifying campaign in Coleraine.

"It's a really proud moment for me and my family," Kerr said after the announcement.

"It's obviously something I've wanted to do and have been working towards for a while now, so it's great to see that dream become a reality and sign professional.

"My last 12 months have been really good. Hopefully that's something I can keep building on to make sure the next 12 months are even better."

Kerr will now join up with the Northern Ireland u19s in Romania for their three Uefa European U19 Championship Elite Round qualifiers.

James Jones
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Dimitri Payet has announced his retirement and there will no doubt be West Ham fans across the globe queuing up to thank him for the magic he delivered during his one and a half seasons in claret and blue.

The France international was signed by Slaven Bilic for little more than £10m in 2015 and announced himself to the Premier League by becoming one of the main men behind West Ham's hugely successful final season at Upton Park, finishing seventh and only four points off the top four.

Over the years, West Ham fans have fallen madly in love with many players who show a mixture of mercurial flair, natural talent, unshakeable work ethic, passion for the shirt and the consistent ability to change a game. Payet had that all in abundance from the start, which is why many fans now have him down as the best player they have seen play for the club.

In his short spell in east London, Payet registered 15 goals and 22 assists in 60 appearances. That is a ratio of 1.62 goal involvements per game for the Hammers, which is, quite frankly, a ridiculous record to boast.

Six of his 15 goals were direct free-kicks, his most famous arguably being the one against Crystal Palace at Upton Park, which seemed to defy physics as it appeared to be hitting row Z before looping in o the top corner. It remains the most outrageous free-kick goal I have seen live.

And who can forget the one against Manchester United at Old Trafford from more than 30 yards, beating David de Gea as the ball crashed in off the post?

It was that first season at the club which led to him being nominated for the Ballon d'Or - yes, a West Ham player was actually nominated as one of the best players in the world. That is how good he was.

His time at West Ham ended prematurely and controversially after he forced a move back to Marseille in January 2017, but he will always be remembered as one of the most gifted players to have represented the club.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Brian: An almost perfect first half and a great team performance. What a difference Super John McGinn makes, not just his ability on the ball, but as a motivational captain. So good to see Youri Tielemans back on the pitch. I have a good feeling about the rest of the season.

Mike: After all the recent poor performances, this was a much more confident team effort and a great result to set us up for the final part of the season. Great to see Tielemans back, and no surprise our midfield once again looks capable of controlling a game. Ollie Watkins thoroughly deserved man of the match. Bring it on!

Craig: Best performance of 2026. No hangover from midweek and with McGinn and Tielemans back, the task of the final games suddenly looks a lot less daunting. A bit more incisiveness in front of goal and we can fly.

Richard: Another solid performance against a West Ham team in form. Watkins was outstanding and McGinn showed why the team hasn't done so well without him. Having Tielemans back is a great boost to the team. With Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all dropping points, it was just the tonic us Villa fans needed.

West Ham fans

Fraser: Disappointing but Villa bounced back with a strong performance after their recent struggles in the league and were a formidable opponent. I still think we will continue to improve under Nuno Espirito Santo and escape relegation - hopefully at the expense of Spurs.

Richard: How can a team that needs points so badly, with an opportunity of getting some against a team lacking form, play with so little energy or fight and find it so difficult to string a series of passes together? We were dismal.

Chris: Poor day away from home, lacking the energy and bite from previous games and sharp passing. Villa came through the midfield too easily and we were sloppy in possession. Even Jarrod Bowen had a poor game by his standards, losing the ball in the run-up to Villa's second. Need to use the break to get back on track, but belief is still there.

Sue: This match was disappointing as we didn't play well like we have in the past few matches. Aston Villa are a very good team and at home they are hard to beat, so we must be positive for the next few games.

Pundits Danny Murphy and Joe Hart join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Tottenham 0-3 Nottingham Forest

• Aston Villa 2-0 West Ham

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

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West Ham's recent upturn in form has offered a faint glimmer of hope as they continue to fight against relegation - they had earned 15 points from their previous nine Premier League games, one more than they had in their first 21 this season.

But a trip to Champions League-chasing Aston Villa was always going to be a difficult task and the Hammers looked flat as they struggled to work their way into the game.

It had been hoped winger Crysencio Summerville would be back from injury for the trip to Birmingham but the Dutchman was again absent and the Hammers have still not won any of their league games without him this season, with the number of matches now up to seven.

For all the positivity around the Hammers in recent weeks they will enter the international break in the relegation zone, having never really looked like threatening hosts Villa.

Their 29 points from 31 league matches this season means only in 2006-07 (34 games) and 2009-10 (33 games) have they gone later into a Premier League campaign without scoring more than 30 points.

Nottingham Forest's win over Tottenham on Sunday put the East Midlanders three points clear of the drop zone and Nuno Espirito Santo will now use the two-week break to work out how to get his own side out of trouble.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to Sky Sports after the 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa: "It is always a problem to lose a player in the warm up. It changes things, we had to change shape and then in the first half we arrived late on the press and there were many things we did wrong.

"We lost the game against a good team. They were better and stronger than us. At half-time we made some changes, we slightly improved but not enough to change the game.

"It is not good going into the international break with this feeling. It is realising that we must do better. We have a lot of work to do. We didn't play good, we have to react, do things better and we are in the fight. It is a moment to reflect and realise we have to do much better. I think the fans today felt disappointed with us and that is what hurts the most."

On Crysencio Summerville: "We are assessing day by day. He is improving but it is too soon to tell the exact date he will return, but hopefully he returns and gives us a hand."

Did you know?

• West Ham United have picked up just 29 points from 31 Premier League matches this season. Only in 2006-07 (34 games) and 2009-10 (33 games) have the Hammers gone later into a Premier League campaign without reaching 30 points.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

What did you make of West Ham's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery makes three changes to the side that lost to Manchester United last weekend in the Premier League.

Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia and Lamare Bogarde drop to the bench. In come Matty Cash, Pau Torres and Jadon Sancho.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Barkley, McGinn, Watkins, Digne, Pau, Sancho, Onana, Rogers

Subs: Bizot, Mings, Tielemans, Buendía, Abraham, Luiz, Maatsen, Bogarde, Bailey.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side are unchanged from the 1-1 draw against Manchester City last time out.

Winger Crysencio Summerville remains sidelined with a calf injury after the club had hoped he would return today. The Hammers have not won any of the six league games where they have been without him in 2025-26.

West Ham XI: Hermansen, Disasi, Castellanos, Diouf, Mavropanos, Fernandes, Pablo, Bowen, Todibo, Soucek, Wan-Bissaka

Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Wilson, Adama, Magassa, Scarles, Potts, Kante.

There are three games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Newcastle v Sunderland (12:00)

• Aston Villa v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Nottingham Forest - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off 14:15 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

And follow Arsenal v Man City in the Carabao Cup final here (kick-off 16:30)

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Aston Villa v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Spurs v Nottingham Forest".

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Aston Villa have lost their past three Premier League games, while West Ham are showing plenty of resilience and have been picking up points.

Morgan Rogers scored a couple of crackers when Villa fought back to beat the Hammers earlier in the season and this is going to be just as close.

Villa boss Unai Emery is cutting a frustrated figure at the moment with their loss of form, but they are still in fourth place.

They are going to get back on track at some point and, if they can keep Jarrod Bowen quiet, then I see them edging this one at home.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Top-four side Aston Villa take on bottom-three team West Ham on Sunday (14:15 GMT) but neither's recent form reflects their current league standing.

Villa's goal struggles

After ending 2025 with a run of 11 consecutive wins in all competitions, Aston Villa's fortunes have taken a new-year dive.

Villa have earned just nine points from their past 10 Premier League matches. In midweek they reached the quarter-finals of a major European competition for the third consecutive season, but this weekend they could lose a fourth league game in a row, something boss Umai Emery has never suffered in his entire managerial career.

The Villans were the joint-fifth highest scorers in the Premier League between last August and December with 30 goals, but no side has scored fewer than the 10 they have managed so far in 2026.

While Villa rank fifth-highest for shots and chances created during that time, they have the worst shot conversion rate. Their xG is only 14th best, which is indicative of the fact they're not creating high-quality chances.

Ollie Watkins (one goal in his last nine league games) and Emiliano Buendia (one in his last 15) are out of form while top scorer Morgan Rogers is being smothered by the opposition. The return of captain John McGinn from a two-month injury absence looks like it has come at just the right time.

In the run-up to Christmas when Villa were on their winning run, football experts were suggesting they were genuine title contenders., external But their turndown in domestic form has left them in a real battle to stay in the top four.

Hammers' cause for optimism

While Villa have faltered in the Premier League over the past couple of months, West Ham have found a new lease of life, and last weekend's draw against Manchester City meant they spent a night outside the relegation zone for the first time since the beginning of December.

It was a brief respite of fewer than 24 hours, but 15 points from their last nine league games (W4, D3, L2), is one more than they had earned in their first 21 this season (W3, D5, L13).

And they remain in the drop zone only on goal difference as they are level on points with Nottingham Forest, having been seven points from safety in January.

With the Hammers also still alive in the FA Cup, it means they have lost only two of their last 12 games in all competitions.

In the draw against City, West Ham scored with their only effort on goal, a header from Konstantinos Mavropanos. The Greek centre-back epitomised a fighting spirit that should help the Hammers' cause, making a game-high 10 clearances and four interceptions, as well as blocking an Erling Haaland shot full in the face.

That hard-earned point came in a match in which they were without the in-form Crysencio Summerville, who was nursing a calf injury. The winger, who has had seven goals and an assist across his last 13 games, is hoping to be fit for Sunday, another boost for West Ham, who haven't won any of their six league games without him in 2025-26.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (kick-off 14:15 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Forward Crysencio Summerville will not recover from injury in time to make the game but "outside of him, everyone is available".

• Nuno revealed that after the news broke that Senegal were stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title, he hugged El Hadji Malick Diouf and said "you are [still] champion".

• On the decision: "What happens on the pitch then stays on the pitch. It is over. He [El Hadji Malick Diouf] is happy and deserves the medal."

• Nuno said that West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen being called up by England is "deserved" and makes him "very, very happy".

• On avoiding relegation: "I believe we are improving and players are stepping up. I focus on the game [rather than hitting a certain number of points]."

Listen to live commentary of Aston Villa v West Ham from 14:00 GMT on Sunday on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about West Ham? Get in touch here and we'll put it to our experts

England manager Thomas Tuchel has named his 35-man squad for the two friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March.

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion).

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur).

There are 13 players involved who weren't in the last squad back in November, while there's a first senior call-up for Everton midfielder James Garner and Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele.