West Ham target £17m midfielder after rivals hijack original move | OneFootball

West Ham Turn Transfer Blow into Opportunity as Midfield Overhaul Takes Shape

Midfield priorities begin to take shape

There was a time when West Ham United’s transfer strategy seemed disjointed, reactive and defined more by opportunity than vision. That appears to be changing under the stewardship of Graham Potter, who has made no secret of the need for a midfield refresh at the London Stadium.

With Premier League rivals Manchester City confirming their interest in Ardon Jashari, once considered a prime Hammers target, West Ham’s recruitment team has quickly recalibrated. In truth, this could be a blessing in disguise.

Photo IMAGO

As reported by Hammers News, City’s pursuit of Jashari has opened the door for West Ham to focus on an arguably more suited target in Raphael Onyedika. The Nigerian international, also of Club Brugge, now heads Potter’s list to revitalise a midfield in need of greater intensity and discipline.

Onyedika fits the new West Ham mould

Onyedika ticks several boxes. Aged 23, experienced in European competition and operating with authority in the defensive midfield role, he presents a compelling mix of promise and polish. Crucially, he also fits the club’s profile of signing players entering the final two years of their contract, making a deal both financially viable and strategically sound.

Photo IMAGO

Club Brugge are reportedly ready to sell, with a modest £17 million fee being discussed. No extension appears likely from either party, and for West Ham, this marks a rare confluence of affordability and ambition.

Learning from past windows

Potter’s approach contrasts with previous Hammers transfer windows that too often skewed towards either short-term fixes or overreliance on ageing legs. This is not just about plugging gaps but reimagining the engine room of a team that has stagnated. The need for energy, dynamism and tactical balance is acute, particularly following the departures of stalwarts and the visible drop in midfield output last season.

Photo IMAGO

With Jashari now off the table and Onyedika front and centre, West Ham appear more focused and purposeful. This is a summer of refinement, not reaction.

Squad size in focus

Interestingly, both Potter and Guardiola are said to favour streamlined squads. There is growing acceptance that over-bloated groups hamper morale and cohesion. In Potter’s case, that philosophy will be shaped by necessity as much as design, given West Ham’s PSR limitations.

Still, if these early movements are any indication, the Hammers may be poised to punch above their financial constraints this summer.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

There’s something refreshing about the way this West Ham window is shaping up, you can see a proper plan forming, and that alone brings optimism. Missing out on Jashari to City might sting a little, but Onyedika feels like more than just a consolation.

He’s exactly what West Ham have needed in midfield – young, powerful, and tactically sound. At £17 million, that’s the sort of fee they used to dream of for a player with serious upside. Potter’s influence is already evident in the way they’re targeting technically sharp, system-fit players rather than marquee names for the sake of it.

For once, the club seems to be thinking two steps ahead, not two months behind. Onyedika’s arrival would be a statement of purpose – not a flashy headline, but a foundational move.