The Yunus Musah transfer saga – one involving West Ham United, Napoli and AC Milan – has seen more twists and turns than a week-long stay at Alton Towers.
Initially, it looked for all the world that the former Arsenal youth star would be leaving the Rossoneri for Antonio Conte’s Serie A champions. Much to the reported disappointment of West Ham United.
West Ham allegedly made a late approach for Yunus Musah earlier in June, when the dynamic midfielder appeared to be on the verge of joining Napoli for a fee in the region of £21 million.
Talks between Napoli and Milan then collapsed in pretty unexpected circumstances. A boost for the Hammers, of course, but a blow for a Rossoneri outfit who were hoping to get the all-action American off the books to ease their pursuit of a midfielder better suited to returning head coach Massimiliano Allegri’s demands.
Igli Tare, the sporting director of the seven-time European champions, confirms that Musah is still free to leave.
But if the New York-born 22-year-old is not particularly well-suited to Allegri’s demands – Milan have turned to the West Ham-linked Ardon Jashari at Club Brugge – then news of his aborted switch to the Partenopei may be music to Graham Potter’s ears.
AC Milan director Igli Tare says West Ham United target Yunus Musah is free to go
Potter rejected the chance to sign Martin Baturina before the stylish Croatian swapped Dinamo Zagreb for Cesc Fabregas’ Como, after all. The man in charge at the London Stadium wants a more athletic, physically imposing footballer to build a midfield restructuring around.
Musah, who was likened to Paul Pogba in his younger days and can play almost anywhere across the park, certainly ticks more boxes than the aforementioned Baturina.
“I consider Musah to be an excellent player but we are looking for profiles with characteristics that are useful for the project we have together with Mr Allegri,” Tare, the former Lazio chief, explains in quotes provided by Tuttomercatoweb.
“Musah does not have these characteristics. This is the real reason why we want to do something different.
“We are also evaluating signing another player in midfield together with a striker. In the event of a transfer, we will also intervene on the wings and in central defence. We must be focused on doing the best possible for the team and to be protagonists [in the Serie A title race].”
Former Arsenal and England youth star Musah was likened to Paul Pogba
Hammers News understands that head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay has made Raphael Onyedika his first-choice midfield target this summer.
Ironically, the £20 million-rated Nigeria international prefers West Ham to AC Milan while his agents have indicated that personal terms will not be an issue should the London Stadium outfit turn up the heat, per Africa Foot.
Musah, though, feels like a fitting alternative from both a stylistic and a financial perspective.
He spent seven years at Arsenal before leaving for Valencia back in 2019. A former England Under-18 captain, Musah opted to represent the country of his birth at senior level and already has 47 caps for the USMNT.
“This is a great kid,” Musah’s former England youth coach Steve Cooper – the man of Nottingham Forest fame – told ESPN in 2020. “Happy, outgoing, respectful, smiling all the time, infectious to be around, willing to learn… thoroughly likeable.
“What I especially like about him is that he’s got a really good aggression on the pitch. Yunus stands out for his Pogba-like athleticism to power away from defenders.
“And if he receives possession, he drives away from opponents and leaves them behind. He has the technique of a real ‘football-playing’ midfielder. But the athleticism and daring to make him a guy who’ll penetrate dangerous opposition areas.
“He’s also got great self-belief.”
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