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EPL Index
·16 de agosto de 2024
Fabrizio Romano Confirms Man City Have Agreed Deal to Sign West Ham Forward
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·16 de agosto de 2024
In what could be seen as a shrewd move, Manchester City has reached an agreement with West Ham United for the signing of young starlet Divin Mubama. As reported by The Express and confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, the 19-year-old striker is set to leave the Hammers after his contract expired this summer. The agreed compensation is reportedly around £1.2 million.
Mubama, a product of the West Ham academy, made his first-team debut in November 2022. Despite his short stint at senior level, City sees significant potential in the London-born player. A medical has been scheduled, paving the way for Mubama to ink a long-term deal with the reigning Premier League champions.
City’s move to secure Mubama comes at a time when the club’s future attack options appear somewhat uncertain. The departure of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for a hefty £82 million, coupled with Oscar Bobb’s unfortunate injury leaving him sidelined for months, has opened discussions about City’s attacking depth.
Pep Guardiola, ahead of the team’s season opener against Chelsea, remained coy about further signings. “Maybe, or maybe not! We’ll see. I’m really pleased with the squad we have,” Guardiola stated, addressing the ongoing speculations.
Photo: IMAGO
It seems the Etihad Stadium will not be Mubama’s immediate playground in terms of first-team action. Instead, the plan is for him to join City’s Elite Development Squad. There’s also talk of a potential loan move next season, which suggests City is taking a long-term approach to his development.
This move indicates that while Mubama may not yet be ready for the main stage, City is committed to nurturing his talent. The competition from other clubs, including Ligue 1’s Lyon and Portugal’s Famalicao, shows the high regard in which Mubama is held across Europe.
With the current transfer window still active, City’s strategy appears focused on both immediate impact players and future prospects. Guardiola’s recent comments hint at a balanced approach to building a squad capable of sustaining success across multiple seasons.
As a Manchester City supporter, the signing of Divin Mubama from West Ham presents a mixed bag of immediate excitement and tempered expectations. On one hand, the acquisition signals City’s intent on bolstering the squad depth with young, promising talents who could shape the future of the club. On the other, Mubama’s likely placement in the Elite Development Squad and potential loan spells mean we might have to wait a bit longer to see him donning the City blue in a Premier League match.
However, given the recent exits and injuries within the squad, some fans might feel a twinge of concern about our immediate attacking options. The loss of Alvarez and the injury to Bobb have left gaps that might not be entirely filled by the current squad as the season kicks off. Guardiola’s cryptic remarks about the transfer market only add to the suspense.
Yet, it’s this kind of strategic planning and investment in youth that has kept City at the apex of English football. Mubama represents not just a potential future star but also a statement of faith in our scouting and development systems. As fans, we should perhaps be excited about the possibilities he could bring in the coming years, even if we must be patient for now.