By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Soungoutou Magassa’s dramatic West Ham U-turn could provide Nuno Espírito Santo with the defensive-midfield option he has been missing — but it may come at a cost for Lewis Orford.
According to Hammers News, citing sources at Knees up Mother Brown (KUMB), the French midfielder has apologised to the club following his failed attempt to secure a move away and now wants to repair the damage.
They report that “Magassa has apologised to the club and asked to be reintegrated into Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad” after a series of actions which had made his desire to leave increasingly clear.
West Ham rejected late approaches from Bologna and Sevilla for Magassa, who had been agitating for a transfer after Nuno refused to guarantee him regular game time.
As we reported on Deadline Day, Magassa was still looking for a way out while West Ham were blocking his departure.
But with the transfer window now closed, an apology made and Magassa seemingly ready to draw a line under the episode, the situation could significantly alter Nuno’s midfield options.
Magassa Could Be The No.6 West Ham Need
Magassa is arguably the most naturally suited player West Ham have for the anchor role.
He’s physically strong, capable of winning the ball and comfortable sitting in front of the defence rather than being asked to provide the creativity further forward.
That’s been a problem during the opening Championship games.
Mohamadou Kanté has occaisionally been asked to perform the holding role, but I’ve never been entirely convinced it gets the best out of him.
Magassa, on the other hand, looks far more naturally suited to the anchor role, after all, he is a converted central defender.
Orford and Kante have impressed in midfield for West Ham
West Ham U-Turn Changes Nuno’s Options
The problem for Nuno is deciding what happens next.
Bologna and Sevilla made approaches which West Ham rejected, while Magassa clearly wanted regular football and was unhappy enough to push for an exit.
Now he’s apparently apologised and wants back in.
Nuno therefore has to decide whether everything that happened during the transfer window can simply be forgotten.
There is also a similar conundrum surrounding Edson Álvarez, who remained at West Ham despite being linked with an exit.
Suddenly Nuno has rather more defensive-midfield options than he appeared to have a few days ago.
What Does It Mean For Lewis Orford?
The impact on Lewis Orford concerns me more.
As I wrote earlier this morning, Orford’s complete disappearance from the matchday squad for the 4-2 victory against Wolves was particularly surprising.
For me, he’s been one of West Ham’s most consistent midfielders during what has been an average start to the campaign.
His performances have certainly justified his opportunities. Against Southampton, Orford ran the show statistically, completing 59 of 64 passes, producing four key passes and registering two assists.
Nuno’s selection against Wolves was vindicated by the result, of course, with Arne Engels and Divine Mukasa performing well.
But Orford has done nothing to deserve becoming collateral damage from Magassa’s decision to stay.
Divine Mukasa was the difference for West Ham against Wolves so midfield opportunities for others could be limited
Nuno Now Has A Decision To Make
Let’s be honest here, Magassa’s attempts to engineer a move away from the London Stadium were clumsy at best.
There is little doubt the squad is stronger with him in it, but he doesn’t deserve the chance to jump the queue ahead of people like Orford, who has quietly and effectively gone about his business.
It could actually be Mohamadou Kanté who is most at risk from the Magassa U-turn because he has been asked to do more of a holding role than he’s comfortable with.
With all that being said, I can’t help but think that Soungu is only apologising because he is now stuck at West Ham.
Perhaps that’s overly cynical.
Either way, if the apology is genuine and Nuno is prepared to reintegrate him, there is a potentially very useful player there.
Let’s just hope there is a path forward for everyone concerned without Lewis Orford paying the price.
Get rid of Mugassa and Alvarez. With two games a week we shoukd rotate our midfield between Orford, Souchek, Kante, Engels, and Divine. I think maybe Nuno sees it as Engels/orford, Kante/souchek, Devine/lamadrid. Not how I see it but with two league games a week plus cup games we’ll be needing our full squad this year.
Orford’s best position isn’t defensive midfield he’s more of an 8. He moves the ball quickly and accurately so his competition for a place is actually quite thin. It’s a long season so rotating and playing horses for courses to maintain the right lineup for the right opponent should be a gift to a decent coach. All we need now is a decent coach.
I’ve never rated Magassa. Was happy for him to leave. I would have kept Earthy Potts or Marshall if any of them. Not sure what Lamadrid offers either to be honest. My midfield three would include Orford.
As I said in my earlier comment on the Orford article – Gonzo are you privy to all of the conversations between Magassa and Nuno and Magassa and the rest of the players?
You mentioned earlier about Nuno’s treatment of Orford Gonzo, though his treatment of Magassa last season was similar, he had a couple of games where he was less effective and was dropped and never seen again.
Can’t blame him for wanting away from Nuno, I am still unconvinced by Nuno and his selections. On another day we could have drawn against Wolves, should have lost to Burnley, could have conceded more against Watford and we don’t score enough or create sufficient clear chances.
Hopefully something gives and we click and I hope Orford and Golembeckis get their chances to shine this season.
Totally agree with you.
Orford oozes class, Alan Dickens springs to mind. I saw him allow the ball to move across him, placing himself in front of his marker, shades of Geno ( Sir Trevor Brooking).
Magassa should anchor and we play a diamond shape in midfield, plenty of rotation positionally in game, Mukasa playing at the top would be my preference.
I don’t think deserve is a deciding factor – we want the team on the pitch with the best chance of winning the game.
Many of the transfer windows are still open so he and Alvarez can still end up going
Orford every day of the week please. He is a great prospect with a great attitude. Magassa gives the ball away too often and has shown his true colours. I wonder if his apology still holds come the next transfer window?
I agree just hollow words… i would keep him on the bench and deffo give Orford the chance over him.. Dont want to Play for the club then i would let him rot but not with detriment to the team getting promotion..
“Is Nuno prepared to reintegrate him” is the key phrase here Gonzo. Nuno bears a grudge better than most and he and Alvarez may be the start of our first bomb squad. I don’t see Orford or Kante as defensive midfielders, the former is creative and the latter more box to box, so if Magassa is forgiven it’s more Alvarez and Tomas who should be fighting for a place in the squad and Soucek is a far better player than Alvarez. Orford should not have been dropped especially as Engles and Mukasa are still finding their feet and he offers something different to them, perhaps he has a knock?