Nuno Espírito Santo turned down the chance of signing Dael Fry on a Bosman transfer, as reported yesterday, because he felt West Ham should raise their standards for their summer transfer targets. The influx of cash from the Mateus Fernandes transfer has given the Irons an opportunity to be more expansive with their plans for this summer, apparently.
Which is excellent news. However there’s a fine line between ambition and unrealistic expectation, and news of the Hammers’ latest ‘ambitious’ transfer target may just fall on the wrong side of that line. According to the Dailymail.com West Ham are targeting former Manchester City and Nottingham Forest England u21 midfielder James McAtee – who Nuno signed in his brief ‘Forest tenure last summer before departing just a couple of weeks later.
“West Ham United are preparing an ambitious move to sign Nottingham Forestmidfielder James McAtee as they step up plans for an immediate return to the Premier League.
McAtee was one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s first signings during his time at Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £30million and, following the £85 million sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham, the Hammers have identified the former England U21 international as their preferred replacement.
West Ham failed once before to sign McAtee – but apparently there is big ambition to bring him in this summer.
New Director of Player Recruitment Nils Koppen is understood to be a long-term admirer of McAtee and has placed the 23-year-old at the top of West Ham’s midfield shortlist”
Trying to convince the young man to drop down a division after a modest season in the Premier League will not be easy especially with SCR rules meaning the Hammers have to watch their wages and cannot simply open the cheque book.
McAtee has failed to live up to his early promise, sure, and in his short career has already spent a season on loan in the Championship with Sheffield united but the chances of landing him at West Ham seem remote indeed.
Yes, West Ham need a midfield playmaker or two but having signed for ‘Forest for £30 million, on the balance of probability anything but another season-long loan might just seem out of West Ham’s reach this season.
Disagree with you both seen him few times very over rated bit light weight not for us
Please no more City throw awaysi if they were anything special City would have kept them they have sold a string of £25=30 mil? Players and non of them have ready made it even mister Foden struggles ..and as fear as Nuno goes he needs to focus on how to play the best way he can with the players available..let’s not forget a few short weeks agp he was rated plank of the decade…
The way they held on to Cole Palmer? Id say Man City are operating an up or out policy with youth – scouting widely (incl from West Ham, Leicester academies) then sell on if they aren’t sure they are good enough for a top 6 side.
He has looked pretty good when did glimpse him. At MC & Forest he has had to challenge some very good midfielders (Gibbs-White & Anderson). With Anderson gone he might get his chance at F, but otherwise great to have him on loan/option to buy if he is oddly out of favour at F.
I think he would be a great loan acquisition as should suit all parties but with some sort of preference to buy if we get promoted and we like the player and he likes the club