West Ham United were already 3-0 down and staring down the barrel of a potentially season-ruiner of a defeat before Nuno Espirito Santo called upon Soungoutou Magassa at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Nuno may even have been pining for the midfield depth available to him at Nottingham Forest. Last season, Ibrahima Sangare, Nicolas Dominguez and Ryan Yates started fewer than 50 Premier League games between them.
When it comes to a veritable treasure trove of midfield gemstones, though few can go band-for-band with Paris Saint-Germain.
What does Matty need to IMPROVE to become the perfect midfielder?
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On a day when Brentford delivered a damaging blow to Nuno’s survival hopes – the West Ham United boss didn’t trust Magassa to play more than a few measly minutes while Freddie Potts wasn’t even among the substitutes – PSG took the chance to rest Vitinha, Joao Neves and Warren Zaire-Emery between two Bayern Munich bouts in the Champions League.
According to reports from France, via Foot Mercato, PSG are keen to bring Mateus Fernandes to the French capital this summer.
That Luis Enrique could afford to leave out three of the best young midfielders on the planet, and still call upon a 41-time Spain international in Fabian Ruiz, only rams home the point that West Ham need Mateus Fernandes a lot more than PSG do.
PSG really don’t need West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes
Well, obviously, you might say.
To that, we draw your attention to Carlos Soler.
Soler only joined West Ham because PSG couldn’t find a spot for a midfielder who, when he arrived from Valencia, was one of the posterboys of La Liga. Soler hoovered up the trophies but lost his Spain place, his confidence, and is only now rebuilding his reputation and form at Real Sociedad.
Only 21, it is difficult to view a potential switch to Paris Saint-Germain as anything other than a surefire way for Mateus Fernandes to stifle his development at a time when he is relishing a starring role in an admittedly-struggling West Ham side.
According to Fabrizio Romano, PSG plan to tie the experienced Ruiz down to a three-year deal.
Les Parisiens are determined to retain Senny Mayulu; the youngster who scored in last season’s Champions League final and continues to develop impressively.
Fernandes would arguably be fifth-choice at PSG
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Fernandes is already stuck behind Vitinha and Joao Neves in the Portuguese pecking order. The former only making his international debut in March and could miss out on a World Cup spot.
If Ruiz – described by head coach Luis Enrique as ‘one of the best midfielders in the world’ – is only PSG’s fourth-choice, then it is difficult to see how Mateus Fernandes’ would command a regular spot in the team, as prodigiously talented as he may be.
Reports have indicated that West Ham have no plans to let Fernandes go this summer, regardless of which side of the dotted line they end up finishing on. It is not only the Hammers who may benefit from one more year of Matty.
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