Earlier today, I outlined what I believed to be the ‘positives’ in West Ham signing N’Golo Kanté from Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. My reasoning for separating the two thought processes is because I find myself undecided and sitting on the fence regarding this transfer.
Kanté’s qualities are numerous and well-documented, so while I do have the usual boyish excitement over West Ham being linked to such a quality player, I also have massive reservations.
Unlike some, my main concerns surrounding the transfer aren’t linked to the player’s wages. Clearly, if the Frenchman decides to leave Saudi Arabia, he has already accepted that he’ll earn less and one would presume is making a football decision rather than a financial one. In essence, if he does sign for West Ham we can afford it, and if his wages are too high, the transfer won’t happen, so there’s really nothing to worry about.
My bigger concern is paying out £20m for a player who could possibly deteriorate very quickly and leave West Ham with a problem position. No doubt Kanté leads a clean lifestyle and looks after himself, but once footballers reach their mid-30’s, the drop-off and decline can happen very quickly indeed.
There is also a worry that the Hammers appear to be reverting back to a very old, tried, tested, and failed transfers strategy. The purchase of Kanté is in stark contrast to Tim Steidten flying off to Brazil in order to sign the country’s most promising 18-year-old attacker.
Academy of Football or retirement home?
There is also the message this type of signing sends out to some of our hugely talented Academy graduates, two of whom are central midfielders. It may well be that learning and training alongside a World Cup winner is a massive benefit to their education. But it could equally be argued that Kanté’s signing could block their pathway to the first team.
Kante’s quality is not on question
I have little doubt that West Ham’s director of football now has a far bigger influence at West Ham, even including his involvement in which players sign scholarship contracts from the Academy. However, it would be difficult to suggest that Steidten is having a major influence on transfers if the latest three signings through the London Stadium doors were Max Kilman, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and N’Golo Kanté.
That is not to demand or besmirch the abilities of those players, each of whom would improve the first team and perhaps that’s all that counts. But one doesn’t need a scouting department and data analytics to highlight, sign, seal, and deliver established, well-known footballers.
On the playing side of things, there’s very little to dislike about Kanté. But, as a West Ham fan, I was just under the impression that the recruitment project and strategy were aimed towards reducing the age profile of the squad and building a young, vibrant team.
That being said, if N’Golo Kanté is the player Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui have decided is the key to unlocking the team’s potential, then who am I to argue?
In my opinion he would end up being out most important signings of the window. Experience in abundance, been there and won everything, good person and most importantly an absolute quality player both in defence and attacking. Players that take care of themselves are playing into their late 30’s easily and when you are as good a player as Kante you adapt your game to continue. Imagine a midfield of Kante, Alvarez and Paqueta. Not to mention how much the squad can learn from him. It’s a no brainer.
Got to be some kind of joke, I don’t get?
If we are negotiating several deals all at once ie duran todibo Bissaka mctominay and Walker-peters and reice-Nelson and we secure them then fair play. But the longer this transfer window goes on without securing any off our main targets the more pressure develops! Lopetegui wanted signings achieved quickly to work with the squad preseason so needs players now !
I’m concerned that we can’t seem to cement a deal with any club ie duran villa or wan Bissaka man utd due to transfer fee or wages ? We need reinforcements now and are linked with everyone but haven’t signed anybody? Is it just us trying to get the best deal or is someone not right?
Young team = Excellent
Excellent Experience = Essential.
Kante or not Kante. Whatever happens, the scenario of the “early signings” seems to be fading quickly and things seem to tend to revert to the hurried “last minute” signings. Where are the players identified early on by the scouting department? Young players with great potential and which are up to the PL demands? It seemed to take for ever, but Luis signed for the club. Any other one? Jhon Duran might be another one (but a rather expensive one and possible arrives with “an attitude”). But seemingly waiting for ever for Todibo (or others) is a worry. Tim spent time in Brazil, but only to reassure Paqueta “not to worry? If option number one makes it too difficult, go down the list for someone else. In the end a mix of experienced ones and young ones is reasonable, but get it done soon!
20/21 only missed 35 games but 19/20 missed 221 days. So last over his last four years at Chelsea his injury record wasn’t to great.
Not because of injury just rotation of squad, where are you getting your info from.
His last season at Chelsea 22/23 season he missed 226 days through 3 different injuries. Season before that to be fair to him he only missed 95 days.
You’ve continued to leave out the elephant in the room. The last 3 seasons Kante had at Chelsea were littered with injuries. He was rarely fit and everyone was saying the years have taken their toll, even back then!
His move to Saudi was for retirement and again, everyone was surprised he was in the French squad, let alone him being thir players of the tournament.
This isn’t a long, hard season in the EPL which he was clearly not able to do for Chelsea, so they let him go on a free.
If this stupid transfer is true then only your seedy little friend,Sullivan, can be behind it and it shows us all, no matter how many people far, far superior to him he employs to run the football side small man with a huge ego just can’t resist a ‘name’ and be flattered by it.
D
Give it a rest mate, he was the main man at Chelsea for the last three seasons he was there, get your facts right.
I’ve never understood West Hams transfer strategy other than a scattergun approach, wait as long as possible, see what materialises and hope for the best. There are numerous club’s in similar position that buy low and sell high, we’re the opposite buy high, sell low. It doesn’t seem to change from one window to another despite changes of responsibilities and new setups of personnel. Best to ignore all the hype and endless mostly unsubstantiated speculation and wait for medicals to take place, if and when, until then it’s mostly smoke and mirrors and look forward to the window closing and the stories of what might have been Kante, Toney, Todibo etc for starter’s.