West Ham United have reached an settlement with Monaco for the everlasting switch of French defensive midfielder Soungoutou Magassa this summer time, in keeping with Santi Aouna.
At solely 21 years of age, Magassa has already established himself as a constant determine for Monaco since breaking into the facet in 2022. The French teenager featured 21 instances in Ligue 1 final season, and his presence may present added power in midfield for Potter.
Through the current conflict with Chelsea—a sport that led to a 5-1 defeat at residence—Graham Potter opted for a midfield pairing of James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek.
Within the second half, Soucek was changed by academy product Freddie Potts, underlining the restricted options obtainable to the supervisor in central areas.
A bodily profile like Magassa so as to add satisfactory reinforcement in the course of the park earlier than the switch window closes could be important, particularly once they’ll be dealing with groups with physicality like Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace in September.
Based on Aouna, West Ham have agreed a cope with Monaco for the everlasting switch of Magassa to the London Stadium this summer time.
The French switch knowledgeable provides that the settlement was reached for the midfielder’s switch for a £17m payment together with add-ons, with the France worldwide additionally agreeing to make the transfer to affix the East London outfit.
Depth
Following a dreadful opening to the Premier League season, the place they misplaced their first two fixtures and presently occupy the underside place, West Ham are looking for contemporary recruits to bolster Potter’s squad.
The London membership have already let in eight targets whereas discovering the web solely as soon as, leaving their scenario extremely regarding.
With beneath every week remaining earlier than the closure of the summer time switch market, the Hammers should transfer rapidly to safe reinforcements; in any other case, they danger being pulled right into a relegation battle this season.
After Edson Alvarez’s departure final week, bringing in one other midfielder is a key precedence for Potter within the coming days.
Though a number of midfielders have been linked, Magassa stands out as essentially the most logical possibility — not solely as a result of he represents a cut-price various to different targets, but additionally as a consequence of his capacity to instantly improve the group’s off-ball construction whereas serving as a beneficial long-term asset for the membership.
