By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
If you haven’t had your eyes on France’s Ligue 2 last season, you’re unlikely to know too much about Martin Adeline.
This 22-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to West Ham and, according to ExWHUEmployee, the Hammers are still very much in the race.
Why Is Martin Adeline So Highly Rated?
Adeline would seem to have star quality written all over him and is fresh off a ridiculous season where he completely ran the show for Troyes.
He wasn’t just pulling the strings in midfield; he put up a massive 10 goals and 10 assists to carry his team to the league title and promotion.
Some of the biggest scouts in Europe have been scrambling to get his signature this summer, so whether that rules out a move to the Championship, I don’t know.
What Type Of Midfielder Is He?
On the pitch, Adeline plays with a bit of swagger. He loves to pick up the ball deep, drive forward into the final third and create chaos.
He’s got that mix of technical French flair, having spent time in the Paris Saint-Germain academy.
He is a right-footed box-to-box footballer who can unlock tight defences with a clever pass or arrive late in the penalty area to smash one into the top corner.
Rather than a trickster, Adeline is a playmaker and is not too dissimilar in playing style and stature to Gustavo Sá, who the Hammers have also been heavily linked with.
As I seem to say repeatedly with players linked to us, he doesn’t have blistering pace or athleticism, but he is more than capable of controlling the tempo of a game.
One To Watch?
At present, I’m not getting excited about anyone in particular. After all, this is silly season and West Ham are being linked with everyone.
But if I were to look at one player and be wowed by his promise, Adeline would probably be the one I’d be most intrigued by right now.