West Ham book Soungoutou Magassa medical as Graham Potter plots late midfield overhaul | OneFootball

Hammers closing in on Magassa deal as they target new signings before transfer deadline

Soungoutou Magassa is expected to complete a medical at West Ham on Wednesday ahead of his move from Monaco, as the Hammers plot a midfield overhaul before the transfer deadline.

West Ham and Monaco have reached an agreement over a fee for the 21-year-old, who is set to finalise his switch to West Ham in the coming days.

It has been reported the deal is worth around £17.3million.

Magassa, who is a France youth international, came through Monaco’s academy and made 31 appearances for them in all competitions last season.

He is viewed as a player who can add energy to West Ham's midfield, which has looked desperately off the pace in the opening weeks of the season.

Potter wants to sign two midfielders, with Magassa helping to add defensive steel to a midfield that often looked stretched as West Ham crashed out of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 defeat at Wolves on Tuesday.

West Ham have also enquired about taking Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare on loan.

The Hammers had looked on course for a morale-boosting victory at Molineux after goals from Tomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta put them 2-1 up, but they were undone by a late brace from Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Soucek continued to prove his worth on a frustrating night, and Potter said the Czech midfielder was not considered for sale despite interest from Everton and former boss David Moyes.

“Tomas is incredibly important for us. You see his qualities and what he brings to the team. I can't see him going anywhere,” Potter said.

Soucek is an important part of Potter’s plans, and it would take a figure close to the £19m West Ham paid for him to even consider a sale.

West Ham are set to be active ahead of the transfer deadline on Monday, with Potter prioritising new midfielders after a difficult start to the season.