If matchday ten is anything to judge by, that might be one of the last similarities the two clubs share this season.
While Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham finally came of age with a deserved 3–1 win over Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers remain winless, rudderless and, as of Sunday, without a manager.
Football, of course, changes quickly. Lose at home to Burnley next week, and West Ham’s triumph could look like yet another false dawn. Likewise, whoever takes charge at Molineux might inspire an instant lift — though the ‘new manager bounce’ has become a rare commodity in the Premier League.
It’s worth remembering that West Ham once held talks with Jorge Mendes over appointing Vitor Pereira — before opting for another Gestifute client, Nuno. And judging by the contrasting performances of both clubs last weekend, that decision now looks increasingly consequential.
According to The Athletic, Pereira was the key reason Kyle Walker-Peters ended up in claret and blue rather than old gold.
Pereira turned down Walker-Peters before West Ham swooped
West Ham signed the England international on a free transfer after his Southampton contract expired in July.
It wasn’t a headline-grabbing move, but with several senior players departing — Vladimir Coufal, Michail Antonio, Kurt Zouma, Aaron Cresswell, Danny Ings and briefly Lukasz Fabianski — Walker-Peters offered a smart, low-cost solution for a thinning squad.
In hindsight, Pereira and Wolves’ sporting director Domenico Teti may well be questioning their summer strategy.
The Athletic reports that the pair preferred “athletic, powerful” signings from overseas rather than proven domestic players. As a result, Wolves passed on Walker-Peters, as well as former Burnley captain Josh Brownhill — now in Saudi Arabia with Al-Shabab — and Fulham winger Harry Wilson.
The irony wasn’t lost on Pereira when Wilson struck one of Fulham’s three goals at Craven Cottage on Saturday, effectively sealing the manager’s fate.
Ki-Jana Hoever started in what could have been Walker-Peters’ right-back role in that defeat and again looked short of Premier League quality.
Wolves’ summer signings Jackson Tchatchoua and David Møller Wolfe — brought in for a combined £21 million from Hellas Verona and AZ Alkmaar — may fit the long-term vision, but Walker-Peters’ versatility and experience would have provided far greater short-term stability.
Walker-Peters has featured in all nine of West Ham’s Premier League matches so far. Though he has started only one of the last four, his ability to cover both flanks will prove invaluable over the festive run-in, especially with Aaron Wan-Bissaka reclaiming his starting spot.
As for Wolves, their hopes of revival may hinge on who takes the reins next — with Erik ten Hag and Middlesbrough’s Rob Edwards both linked.
Gary O’Neil, previously in contention for both the West Ham and Wolves jobs, has reportedly withdrawn from the race after holding talks with the club, according to Sky Sports.