West Ham To Push Ahead With £17.3m Midfield Signing | OneFootball

West Ham Secure Magassa in Midfield Boost

Credit to The Guardian for reporting that West Ham United are set to sign Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco in a €20m (£17.2m) deal. Jacob Steinberg and Ed Aarons detailed how this transfer marks a significant win for Graham Potter, whose side has been under mounting pressure after a shaky start to the Premier League campaign.

Key Transfer Details

Magassa, a 21-year-old France Under-21 international, had attracted strong interest from Nottingham Forest, making West Ham’s capture even more crucial. As The Guardian revealed: “Potter spoke to him on Sunday and West Ham’s recruitment chief, Kyle Macaulay, played a crucial role in convincing the Frenchman to join.”

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Negotiations saw West Ham initially bid €17m plus €3m in add-ons. Despite late tension when Forest entered the race, Magassa flew to London on Tuesday evening, with only a medical standing in the way of the move.

A Timely Reinforcement

The Hammers’ midfield has looked sluggish, lacking energy and transition speed. Signing Magassa is seen as a step toward correcting that. As reported: “West Ham’s scouts have done extensive work on Magassa, who made 31 appearances in all competitions for Monaco last season, and see him as an ideal fit.”

Potter’s need for reinforcements was highlighted after the club’s crushing 5-1 defeat to Chelsea, which left many doubting whether high-profile signings would still be possible. This deal, then, offers much-needed optimism.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a West Ham supporter’s perspective, this signing could be a genuine turning point. The midfield has been a glaring weakness, too often overrun by opponents. Bringing in Magassa, a young player with energy and versatility, feels like the type of move fans have been demanding.

There is, however, a cautious undertone. Many West Ham fans will remember previous transfer windows where investment arrived too late or failed to make the required impact. The fact that Forest were close to hijacking the deal also raised concerns about the club’s ability to act decisively in the market. In this case, persistence has finally paid off.

Supporters may also question whether Magassa alone will be enough. After conceding five goals to Chelsea, the defensive midfield and back line still require reinforcement. While Magassa’s athleticism is welcome, more experience could be needed around him.

Still, fans will take heart in the details reported by The Guardian – particularly that Potter and recruitment chief Kyle Macaulay were proactive in convincing Magassa to sign. That kind of commitment is exactly what supporters want to see.