West Ham United’s reported pursuit of Stade Rennais and Wales midfielder Jordan James may have taken a small step in the right direction.
As Manchester United look to beat Tottenham to the £85 million-rated signature of Mateus Fernandes, a midfielder who emerged from the wreckage of a Leicester City relegation not only unscathed but enhanced appears to have been identified as a potential replacement.
Jordan James is reportedly available for £13 million this summer. That is despite the fact that Loic Desire, the technical director at Ligue 1 outfit Rennes, obviously rates the Hereford-born Wales international very highly.
Future Champions League winner? How far can Mateus Fernandes really go?
Another Jorge Mendes masterclass looming… 💰 🇵🇹
Following a superb loan spell with the Foxes, Desire appears to be – albeit very reluctantly – accepting of the fact that James wants to return to England on a permanent basis.
West Ham United were linked earlier this month.
Jordan James could leave Rennes as West Ham United eye the situation
A couple of weeks after James was spotted following a host of West Ham-themed accounts on social media – a ‘come and get me plea’ for the modern era, perhaps – Desire spoke about his future on the Pleine Lucarne podcast.
While admitting that ‘it wouldn’t bother [Rennes] at all to keep Jordan’, he also admitted that retaining his services will be difficult.
Comparisons are drawn to the situation of Fabian Rieder.
Rieder was another midfielder who found starts hard to come by. And, while he had his admirers at Roazhon Park, the Swiss technician was allowed to leave after making it clear he saw no future for himself in Brittany.
James is currently back training in France after his year in the East Midlands.
He scored 11 goals and set up four more in 34 Championship matches. The former Birmingham City starlet even claimed the division’s Young Player of the Year award, despite being part of a Leicester side who would go on to suffer successive relegations.
Wayne Rooney is a big fan of the Wales international
James’ ability to perform numerous roles from both an attacking and a defensive stand-point will appeal to a West Ham outfit certain to lose their most complete midfielder since Declan Rice.
“He is a very good player,” former Birmingham manager and Premier League legend Wayne Rooney said back in 2023 when James was still a teenager.
How would YOU feel if West Ham sold Fernandes and bought Jordan James?
The Welshman is available for £13m… 🏴
“He can play as a [number] six but, watching him in training, seeing how he can reach the box and make really good runs, he’s a good finisher, in my opinion he’s a number eight.
“There’ll be times he plays as an eight, there’ll be times he plays as a six. He’s got that ability.”
James’ eleven goals last term came from an ‘expected goals’ tally of 4.6. This speaks volumes about the quality and the ferocity of his ball-striking from distance. A long-range swerver against Sheffield United was arguably the highpoint, while another when he cut inside from the left and lashed a shot into the far corner versus Swansea is one Mateus Fernandes himself would have been extremely proud of.
West Ham have been linked with Swansea’s Ethan Galbraith, too. James feels a more natural, ready-made Fernandes successor however, partly because Galbraith spent much of last season at right-back rather than in his usual midfield role.
Other names mentioned include Hibs’ Josh Mulligan, FC Metz’s Alpha Toure and Martin Adeline of Ligue 1 newcomers ESTAC Troyes.
The Hammers will also hope for some movement on the Fernandes front this week as Nuno Espirito Santo’s summer rebuild kicks into gear.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
