With Soungoutou Magassa set to join Mateus Fernandes at West Ham United, better days could be ahead for Graham Potter’s beleaguered midfield.
After weeks of drawn-out negotiations, West Ham United completed the £40 million signing of the former Southampton dynamo on Friday morning.
Graham Potter believes Mateus Fernandes will bring a ‘different dimension’ in the centre of the park. The same can probably be said of a certain Monaco powerhouse.
Soungoutou Magassa’s ball-winning stats are far superior to the Hammers’ current midfield duo of Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse, after all. Add his penchant for a line-breaking pass into the mix – Magassa is expected to replace Edson Alvarez – and the incoming £14 million France Under-21 international could make the central picture a little clearer in Potter’s jumbled-up jigsaw.
Fernandes and Magassa are both 21 years of age, barely scratching the surface of their potential. Presuming Mohamadou Kante can maintain his own current rate of progress – the teenager is making a big impression with Mark Robson’s Under-21 side – the future of West Ham’s midfield looks far brighter than it did only a week ago.
Graham Potter shares West Ham United’s Mohamadou Kante plan
While Fernandes and Magassa are expected to slot straight in alongside Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and co, the £425,000 arrival from Paris FC will not be rushed into the first-team picture.
Yet, Mohamadou Kante has already trained under Graham Potter at Rush Green, something the teenager is ‘very happy’ about.
The aforementioned Mark Robson even went as far as to describe Kante as ‘a Patrick Vieira kind of central midfield player’ earlier this month, watching on in awe as he charged into the box and finished stylishly during a victory over Woking.
A goal reminiscent of the Arsenal icon indeed.
Potter was keen to avoid being drawn into those Vieira comparisons when they were brought up during his pre-Nottingham Forest press conference, but the man in the London Stadium dugout is clearly keeping a very close eye on the next generation of claret and blue kids.
“He’s had some pre-season time with us. He’s been doing quite well with the Under-21s,” Potter said when asked about Kante on Friday afternoon.
“I think it’s a bit early to put him in the bracket of Patrick Vieira! He’s got a bit of work to do. [But] he is a young player and there is potential.”
After joining West Ham in 2024, Kante spent last season back out on loan at Paris FC. He helped the capital city club end their 46-year exile from France’s top flight in the process.
“Mo is a big boy. A couple of times when he pressed, he’s got these long legs and he just nicked the ball off people. Really clever,” Robson said of a rangy, silky-smooth midfielder who opened his Premier League 2 account with a consolation in last week’s 3-1 defeat to champions Manchester City.
“He’s like a Patrick Vieira kind of central midfield player.
“He’s had some experience with the Paris FC first team in Ligue 2, so he’s already played against men. He’s been excellent since he’s come in. He’s a really good lad, very hungry for it, and we’re really pleased to have him.”
Kante hopes to force his way into Premier League picture as Dimitri Colau closes i
Speaking to the official West Ham website a couple of days ago, Kante opened up on his desire to reach double figures for goals and assists in his debut year this side of the Channel in the hope that he will earn another chance to join Magassa, Fernandes and co in a revamped midfield set-up.
“To be honest, it’s been really good here,” the Hammers’ number 55 smiles. “My arrival has gone very smoothly, without problems, so I’m feeling good. Everyone has made sure I feel welcome and feel at home.
“It takes time to adapt, but I feel like I did that well during pre-season and now I’m ready to take on the challenge of English football.
“For those who don’t know me, I would say I’m a physical player. Someone who keeps running. I like to create chances, but I also enjoy the defensive side.
“My goal this season is to go all-out. For me, that means scoring as many goals as possible for the Under-21s. If I had to set a number, I’d say at least ten goals and ten assists.”
Interestingly, Hammers News can confirm that West Ham are set to raid Paris FC again with the signing of young right-back Dimitri Colau.
