As first signings go, Nils Koppen’s reported plan to bring James McAtee to West Ham United from Nottingham Forest would be an extremely popular one.
What’s not to like?
The Salford-born 23-year-old has a proven track record in the Championship, scoring nine times on loan at Sheffield United as the Blades yo-yoed their way to promotion in 2023.
McAtee possesses an ‘incredible’ eye for goal, so says Pep Guardiola.
Koppen wants McAtee! What should West Ham’s Soucek succession plan look like?
McAtee looks like a solid replacement…
As West Ham are set to be without Tomas Soucek for the foreseeable future, a man who averaged a goal every 61 minutes in the Premier League for Manchester City could fill the Czech’s box-crashing shoes.
And according to TEAMtalk, McAtee is reportedly open to the idea of leaving Nottingham Forest while reuniting with a coach under whom he played only two games following that £30 million move to the City Ground.
Fans back Nuno and Nils Koppen in West Ham United’s James McAtee pursuit
Nuno Espirito Santo, the current head coach at West Ham United, was sacked by Forest less than a month after McAtee’s arrival.
This is not solely a deal driven by Nuno, though.
West Ham appointed Nils Koppen as their Director of Player Recruitment on Saturday. And, according to the Daily Mail, Koppen is not only supportive of Nuno’s interest, he has placed McAtee right at the summit of the Hammers’ midfield wishlist.
So that’s Nuno and Koppen who like the idea of bringing McAtee to East London? Who else? Just the small matter of the West Ham supporters who make up Hammers News’ TalkingPoint users.
“Bring him in…” another agrees, while some recall McAtee claiming the Man of the Match award when England beat Germany in the final of the Under-21 Euros in 2025.
“About time! Quality player. Wanted him before with [Everton’s Kiernan] Dewsbury-Hall and [Liverpool’s] Harvey Elliot in midfield. Young, quality players.”
“Watched him lots. Fantastic player with lots of energy and would love to have him.”
“I wouldn’t say ‘long-term’ replacement…,” one writes in response to our suggestion that McAtee could step into Soucek’s role. “I’d replace him with McAtee or [Mohamadou] Kante now! And that’s not a criticism of Soucek. He’s been absolutely brilliant for us.
“We just need younger blood with quicker legs!”
“[McAtee is a] great choice. Get him in.”
“Phil Foden is finished. We might get chance getting the real thing!”
Koppen could get off to a flyer with Nottingham Forest ace
Like with the Gustavo Sa situation – the Portuguese press would have you believe that the Famalicao midfielder is on his way to London right now – there is a lot of work that must be done before McAtee is posing with a claret and blue scarf around his neck, shaking hands with Nuno Espirito Santo, Nils Koppen and Mark Noble.
But if the Man City graduate is to become the first signing of a new era at the London Stadium, Koppen will have got off to a very popular, positive start indeed.
TEAMtalk add that Nuno likes the idea of bringing in someone who would thrive in the Championship and also could prove very useful in the Premier League should the Hammers secure promotion at the first time of asking.
Signing players with an eye on both the present and the future is also something Koppen talked about during his unveiling.
“I am really pleased to have this fantastic opportunity and very much looking forward to joining such a big club and being a part of something new. I’m also looking forward to working with Nuno – he is a very experienced and highly-respected head coach,” Koppen said.
“The first focus will obviously be the transfer window and identifying the correct players to move us forward next season. We also want to keep the core squad intact.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
