West Ham’s midfield upgrade is belatedly in full swing but not going according to plan. The Irons’ bidding for Southamptons Mateus Fernandes has met with an immediate rebuttal from Southampton who sense their Portuguese u21 midfielder will be the subject of a bidding war and have sky high price expectations.
In addition, according to a new report out of Africa today, the Hammers have re-prioritised their long-held interest in Raphael Onyedika, as the Irons have apparently warmed to the idea of signing Lille’s Ngal’ayel Mukau, as we reported yesterday.
According to soccernet.ng, the Hammers have switched big time. Their article today entitled “West Ham abandon Raphael Onyedika interest, plot swoop for another African star” confirms that the Irons have refocussed :
“The Hammers have relegated Onyedika on their list of targets. The transfer market expert reports that the club is seriously interested in DR Congo midfielder Mukau.
The 20-year-old defensive midfielder has been at Lille since last year, and has been very impressive. He has close ball control, high activity on the pitch, and is very strong on the ball. Mukau is valued at €20 million, which is a price West Ham can afford.”
Just yesterday we wondered what had happened to West Ham’s long reported interest in Onyedika: It appears now that Mukau heads the list and may well be hearing from West Ham any day if the negotiations to land Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes prove fruitless.
Which, with the Saints reportedly pricing him at £50 million, is looking a distinct possibility. Potter and Macaulay’s analysis obviously sees Ngal’ayel Mukau as the better prospect over Onyedika. Either would suit me just fine!
It all comes, down to one simple factor, does sullivan want the cash in his bank or for west ham to be successful. I think we all know the answer to this. And with 3 weeks left in the window you don’t have long to wait to see me proved correct yet again. If I’m wrong I will eat something I absolutely hate. ONE WAY OR THE OTHER I WILL BE VIOLENTLY SICK OR YOU WILL BE CALLING ME THE BIG CHEESE.
I’ll remember this, Colin, could end very badly for you…
Please circle back to this in three weeks!!
If it’s true 13 clubs are in the mix for Fernandes at a speculative £50m time for whu to move on.
This can’t be one of those obsessed must have players which ends up missing him and other players.
If available would like to remove Fernandes and add Tavernier at £30m.
As they say should stick with your instincts which would be Onyedika_£25m been on Potters list from start of transfer season.
Having said that Bilal El Khamouss_£22.5m and Mukau_£17.5m also look good.
No chance of getting all three or four? (pushing it a bit!!!)
Would assume Idrissa Gueye_£13m is no longer a candidate?
no other club is in for fernandes
we were the only club with serious interest that resulted in an actual bid
and if it’s true that out 30m bid offer failed then i can’t see any other club going in for him
Stop all this messing about and just get Brownhill in…we all no that is happening the rest is utter nonsense
I think you’ll be surprised… let’s wait and see pat!
He looked pretty impressive during the Lille game so hopefully he’s like a certain Brazilian who was playing for another French club beginning with ‘L’, enjoyed the atmosphere and decided he’d love to play in front of the crowd there on the regular.
£20m give or take for him and maybe bringing in the other Idrissa Gueye for the reported £12m then that’d make for an alright window.
On paper, last year’s seemed pretty positive but turned out to be more like toilet paper so hopefully this one will bring better results. Literally.
Hi Martin after months between the end of the last season and the imminent start of the new one we still have the same dreadfully slow, painfully dull, uninspiring midfield! I’m dumbfounded that the club and potter haven’t addressed this issue months ago and yet here we are yet again expecting to see at least 2 of 3 of JWP, soucek and Guido playing a major role in Saturdays game. I know we have Potts who looks like he may well become a mainstay in the midfield but he can’t do the running for ward prowse and Guido. Unless they sort this out we are heading for disaster
100% agreed, we saw it under lopetegui with dreadful midfields of Rodriguez Alvarez soucek and NOTHING has been done yet in two transfer windows. yet we have a brilliant goal keeper and a super left back. what a load of cack.