Suddenly, the central midfield position feels like an area of real promise at West Ham United. The same cannot be said, much to Antonio Conte’s frustration, of Serie A champions Napoli.
Il Partenopei have lost Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa to a serious thigh injury.
The Cameroon international, so integral to last season’s Scudetto triumph, could be out of action until the spring of 2026. Anguissa joins Kevin de Bruyne, the luckless Manchester City legend, on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.
Scotland international Billy Gilmour has also followed Anguissa and De Bruyne in a treatment room with more midfielders than in Conte’s matchday squad.
Now, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea coach is not one to keep his cards close to his chest when it comes to new signings. As January approaches, and as Napoli reportedly plan an approach for Soungoutou Magassa of West Ham United, president Aurelio de Laurentiis is facing up to another few months of having his ear chewed by the gnashing teeth of his ever-demanding head coach.
While Nuno Espirito Santo is understandably excited about the burgeoning Freddie Potts – Mateus Fernandes partnership, £14 million man Magassa has played only 30 minutes of the last five Premier League matches.
Though whether West Ham are therefore willing to let Magassa spend the second half of the campaign on loan at Napoli remains to be seen.
Conte would be advised against holding his breath.
Antonio Conte highlighted Napoli’s midfield problems before West Ham United approach
Hammers News can confirm that the France Under-21 international has made a good impression behind the scenes at Rush Green. Nuno is confident that Magassa will adapt to life in the Premier League, meanwhile, given time and plenty of patience.
‘Patience’, though, is not a word often used to describe Conte. A man so volcanic in his emotions that Andrea Pirlo once said his team talks were like the eruption of Vesuvius itself.
“The latest blow to fall on us is Anguissa’s injury, which he sustained while playing for the [Cameroon] national team,” an exasperated Conte said last week. “It’s made me think about it, we’re really short in midfield.
“The only players left in the position are [Stanislav] Lobotka and [Scott] McTominay.
“This electricity that we had last year led us to do something extraordinary. No one should forget this. Unity and compactness helps us overcome obstacles. There are big obstacles. Anguissa’s injury was a tremendous blow.”
Giovanni Manna admits midfielders needed amid Soungoutou Magassa links
Speaking to Sky Italia ahead of their midweek Champions League clash with Qarabag, sporting director Giovanni Manna made it clear that Conte is not the only one looking to January in order to solve what is fast becoming a problem position.
Which position do West Ham need to strengthen the most and why? Who is your dream January signing?
“We had a significant [summer] transfer window, in terms of numbers and spent a fair amount,” Manna said. “But we are limited in midfield.
“January is a market full of opportunities, so we’ll make sure we’re ready.”
According to Il Mattino, Napoli have stepped up their interest in a short-term deal for Magassa this week. Presuming West Ham would be willing to consider a short-term deal – and that is a big leap indeed – the former Monaco ace would tick the ‘market opportunity’ box.
A temporary, low-cost loan signing coming in to cover for Anguissa until he is ready to return for the run-in.
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