Edson Alvarez made no secret of the fact that the chance to work with Jose Mourinho was a key factor in him leaving West Ham United for Fenerbahce during the summer transfer window.
So when Mourinho was sacked only weeks into the Turkish Super Lig season, Mexico captain Alvarez was not best pleased.
Now, as Fenerbahce close in on a deal to sign N’Golo Kante from Al-Ittihad, a combination of Mourinho’s departure, Alvarez’s injury issues, and the likely arrival of a World Cup-winning midfielder means West Ham United face missing out on a cool £19 million windfall.
N’Golo Kante has been linked with West Ham…😍
How can Nuno get the best out of him?
That is the fee Fenerbahce would have to pay if they decide to turn Edson Alvarez’s loan deal into a permanent transfer.
The Hammers struck a similar arrangement with Maxwel Cornet and Genoa when the Ivory Coast winger returned to the Serie A outfit for a second spell on September 1st. The former Burnley and Lyon forward re-joined the Grifone on a temporary basis, albeit with an option-to-buy clause included as part of the deal.
And the injury-hit Cornet made a long-awaited return to the training pitch this week as he aims to make a first league start since October. It is fair to say Daniele de Rossi, the iconic Italian midfielder now at the helm of Genoa, cannot wait to see him in action.
Daniele de Rossi welcomes back West Ham United loanee Maxwel Cornet for Genoa
So, as Alvarez’s Turkish stint threatens to take a turn for the worse, Cornet will be hoping that his campaign is only just beginning.
Cornet has played only 78 minutes of Serie A football this season.
His 2025/26 was best summed up during the 0-0 draw with Parma in early-summer. Cornet missed a last-gasp penalty. Only a few days later, Genoa sacked head coach Patrick Vieira.
Fortunately for the 2023 Conference League winner, De Rossi is just as big a fan of Cornet as his predecessor was.
“Cornet trained with us today,” De Rossi told reporters on Friday as Genoa prepare for this weekend’s clash with – you guessed it – Parma.
“He’s a strong, high-quality player. Let’s hope he’s OK [to feature]. I’m thinking of bringing him to Parma even if he doesn’t play.
“He can make a huge contribution to the dressing room.”
Lucas Paqueta could MISS Spurs v West Ham… 🤔
Who would you pick to start in his No 10 role instead?
Former Arsenal, Inter Milan, Juventus and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira raved about Cornet’s impact in the second half of last season. The 29-year-old scored twice in seven appearances as Genoa cruised into a mid-table finish.
Having made only one brief cameo appearance under De Rossi, though, Cornet will surely feel as if he has a point to prove and lost time to make up for as the Ligurian outfit look to stay clear of the bottom three again.
Genoa are currently 15th, only one place and three points behind opponents Parma.
Kaelan Casey’s Swansea City spell ends amid Konstantinos Mavropanos concerns
From one loanee to another, West Ham recalled Kaelan Casey on Thursday after the big defender fell out of favour at Swansea City.
Swans coach Vitor Matos put Casey’s return down to a lack of regular game time in South Wales. Another theory, though, is that the Hammers may have sped up that decision having lost Konstantinos Mavropanos to a neck injury in the FA Cup victory over Queens Park Rangers.
With these players out or doutbful, who needs to step up against Tottenham?!
Mavropanos is a doubt ahead of Saturday’s derby with Tottenham Hotspur.
“West Ham made the decision. Now, it’s about what’s best for Casey, I think,” Matos told reporters. “It’s always about expectations and where they are in terms of development. What the parent club wants as well for him and then trying to find the best out of that.
“In this situation with Casey, that’s what was decided and we are now moving forward from that.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
