Paris Saint-Germain loanee Carlos Soler became the first West Ham United midfielder to say his goodbyes to the Premier League outfit, and he is unlikely to be the last.
Carlos Soler bid farewell after West Ham beat Ipswich on the final day of the season. The former Valencia captain returns to PSG, though reports from France suggest that Brighton may be Soler’s next destination.
Either way, as West Ham United turn down the opportunity to turn his loan deal into a permanent £16 million transfer, Graham Potter is already one midfielder down heading into the summer.
When you consider that Potter has reportedly put Tomas Soucek up for sale amid interest from Everton and Leeds, not to mention the uncertainty surrounding Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez and Lucas Paqueta, you could make a case for none of West Ham’s current midfield options being guaranteed a place at the London Stadium come 2025/26.
Edson Alvarez has been linked with Chelsea, and not for the first time. Guido Rodriguez denies claims he is in talks with River Plate, but the veteran Argentine is likely to be made available.
Lucas Paqueta still has a lifetime ban hanging over him, meanwhile, as the Hammers await the verdict of his spot-fixing trial.
And, if West Ham are eyeing up Anderlecht starlet Mario Stroeykens as reports suggest, it is probably no coincidence that the Belgium Under-21 international shares similarities with one Lucas Paqueta.
Anderlecht boss Besnik Hasi responds as West Ham eye Mario Stroeykens
Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri exclusively tells Hammers News that Stroeykens is a ‘Paqueta-style of player’. A technically-gifted yet athletic midfielder who loves to drive forward from deep, play clever passes into the final third, and take shots from distance.
West Ham’s interest has sparked plenty of debate over in Belgium.
Reporter Filip Joos argues that staying at Anderlecht would be the best thing for all parties. As a visibly-emotional Stroeykens walked off during the recent 3-1 defeat by Club Brugge, however, this looked for all the world like a footballer fully aware of what the future holds.
Anderlecht coach Besnik Hasi has not given up hope of keeping Stroeykens for at least one more year, though there is also a feeling that the £17 million-rated dynamo holds most of the cards.
“In the past, top talents usually stayed one or two years, sometimes three,” Hasi explains. “Mario is now in his fourth season in the first-team [but] he did experience some injuries this season.
“As a coach, I would advise him to stay. Then, we would have a good player here. But in today’s game, guys want to take steps [forward] and sometimes they have to.”
Stroeykens has only one year left on his contract. As such, unless Anderlecht can find an agreement on fresh terms, this summer represents their last chance to bring in close to their asking price.
Stroeykens has been likened to Aston Villa ace Youri Tielemans
Stroeykens scored five goals this season, in addition to his seven assists. What could prove to be a farewell strike in that Club Brugge defeat – a 30-yard screamer bulleted in off the crossbar – was the sort of sheer quality West Ham have spent much of 2024/25 lacking with both Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus often off the boil.
“I am a very big fan”, Anderlecht fan and pundit Sam Kerkhofs told Extra Time. “[Stroeykens] has a lot of vision and an enormously wide range of qualities. Stroeykens is also strong and you can’t get him off the ball.”
Het Laatste Nieuws, meanwhile, see similarities between Stroeykens and a young Youri Tielemans; The former Anderlecht captain who has blossomed into one of the most consistent midfielders in Europe under Unai Emery at Aston Villa.
“Stroeykens is a cocktail of the many conditions that a modern footballer must meet,” they wrote. “Technique, running ability, intensity, explosiveness…”
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