With the report this afternoon suggesting that midfield ‘top target’ James McAtee has no desire to join West Ham United, the search for a replacement for Mateus Fernandes grows more urgent.
Several names have been mooted in recent weeks as West Ham look for a playmaker to add to their one dimensional young midfield options. With Soucek sidelined, the Irons have only Potts Kanté and Magassa once the mooted move for Edson Alvarez materialises- so another signing is crucial.
According to sport witness the Irons are now looking to Scandinavia – the same side as one-time attacking target Franculino Djú, co-incidentally- Danish side Midtjylland: In this case the link concerns a a 22 y/o Ecuadorian: midfielder said to be attracting interest from east London:
West Ham are being credited with interest in Midtjylland midfielder Denil Castillo as the Championship club continue assessing options to strengthen their squad this summer.
Reports from Ecuador’s El Diario, claim the Hammers have identified the 22-year-old as one of several midfielders under consideration. This is ahead of the new campaign.
In his Shaktar days as a youngster
What this highlights is that no single midfielder transfer seems close to being finalised – as target after target is put forward by media or agents. Sooner or layer the ‘phoney war’ of ‘considering’ targets has to stop and the serious business of bringing talent into the club begin.
Whether Castillo may be a genuine contender will only become clear if his Danish side start to ‘leak’ concrete news: Patience is wearing thin as 45000 season ticket holders await news of how their side might start to take shape.
Patience is not wearing thin at all Martin. Maybe from your perspective its wearing thin without any news to post, but not for the rest of us. I love how there are no rumours or gosssip coming from the club and that you have to hope the Danish side leak some concrete news. Finally our club is being run professionally with very little of our business being in the public domain, unlike the previous regime who would rush to comment and give out any information if it appeared to keep them relevant or benefit them in some way. Long may it continue! COYI
I’m not sorry he’s turned us down. He had a reputation of blowing hot and cold.
If Nuno decides not to play the kids then they aren’t good enough. He’s shown he’s not afraid to give youth a chance.
Fans love the ‘he’s one of our own BS’ but at the end of the day no coach ignores a player if they are good enough irrespective of age.
Throwing a load of youth players at the side in the championship is a recipe for disaster.
Here’s my transfer predictions based on all current news.
Álvarez gets sold
Two or three senior players are moved on to reduce the wage bill.
We make at least one signing that hasn’t been heavily linked beforehand.
Bowen stays.
No loss in my view McAtee very overrated
Surely more lads from the academy should get a chance over these pie in the sky types.same old rumour mill with no actual action and a month to kickoff.
We also have Earthy as a midfielder who by all accounts did well in the Championship and what Fearon has everyone forgotten we have some promising youngsters
Right on Mark, I recall Nuno saying he’s all about developing the Academy and promoting from within, time to prove it
IMHO, expecting he’s not, but hoping Orford gets a chance.