Claret and Hugh’s article yesterday suggests West Ham are close to re-integrating midfielder Edson Alvarez within the matchday squad after the Mexican appears to have settled whatever issues he had with Nuno Espírito Santo.
However, that in itself creates something for a problem for the Hammers’ boss who now has an embarrassment of midfield riches to call on. Alvarez and Soucek will both be hopeful of returning to involvement following their respective absences but the present incumbents Mukasa and Engels will be hard to displace.
Behind the two ‘starters’ lie Kanté and Lewis Orford, both players for the future and well-used so far this season, neither letting their coach down.
Kante – value rocketing – and a future star for West Ham to hang onto
Soungoutou Magassa still hopes for a restart of his own career whilst young Keiber Lamadrid (who harbours hopes of being a central player too) will surely be way down the pecking order.
Clearly seven – or eight – into two doesn’t go: Even if the suggested change to a three man midfield accounts for either Soucek or Alvarez making the line up occasionally, the Irons are over-stocked with midfield players and will surely divest themselves of a couple in the winter.
Watch for the first hints from Nuno’s team selections against QPR, Lincoln and Swansea: Whichever one fails to make the bench -You’d feel most likely either Magassa or Alvarez – will surely be on the way out of the door in January to fund a purchase elsewhere in the squad.
Magassa might do better with a loan. He already has some PL experience, but if he could play regularly in a lower EL or in France (same way Potts made a difference at Pompey, Mukasa at WHU); with that experience he might have potential to be a future PL player of value.
Important to know if he would like to stay at WHU medium term, He might do, since club seems to be rebuilding and might soon be able to hold real ambition, of being more than it has been for a long time now.
Neither Magassa or Alverez are better than what we have but…. BOTH can and have played in defence. Alverez very effectively for Mehico in the World Cup. Got to be a point and better than Kilman and KWP/Scarles
I don’t see these guys displacing Kante, Engels, Orford or Soucek, Lamadrid might get loaned out, if Nuno wants to sell them he will probably start to give them some game time November/December to show what they can do.
Alvarez needs to be sold if we can get £10 – 15 m for him that should be good enough, Magassa is worth more than that, there isn’t much of a sign he is welcome back despite articles to the contrary.