West Ham United have wasted no time in their pursuit of midfield reinforcements, with the club quickly switching focus to their 14th target in just 48 hours after missing out on AS Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa.
The 20-year-old Frenchman was seen as an ideal fit for Julen Lopetegui’s side, and the Hammers had a bid lined up before Monaco made it clear they would not sanction his departure this summer. The collapse of that deal forced West Ham to turn their attention elsewhere as their urgent search for midfield stability continues.
Among those now on West Ham’s radar is Torino’s Ivan Ilić, with reports suggesting the London club are preparing a package worth around £17.5 million for the Serbian international. Ilić joins a long list of names the Hammers have explored in recent weeks, including Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes, Barcelona youngster Marc Casadó, Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, Ajax star Kenneth Taylor, and Feyenoord’s Quinten Timber.
The East London side’s scattergun approach highlights both the urgency and difficulty of securing midfield reinforcements, especially after the loan departure of Edson Álvarez to Fenerbahçe left a gap in the squad. Supporters have voiced frustration at the number of failed pursuits, but insiders insist the club remains confident of sealing at least one major midfield signing before the transfer window closes.
For Lopetegui, solving the midfield puzzle is a top priority as West Ham look to recover from an inconsistent start to the season and build a squad capable of competing across all fronts.
Be the first to comment