Paolo di Canio gives honest verdict on ‘dynamic’ £21m ace West Ham want to sign

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When Premier League icon Paolo di Canio talks, the West Ham United supporters tend to listen.

So his assessment of Yunus Musah, the AC Milan midfielder reportedly high on the Hammers’ radar this summer, may just have a few at the London Stadium slightly concerned.

It is no secret that Graham Potter wants athletic additions to his West Ham United engine room.

That is part of the reason why West Ham turned down Martin Baturina before the stylish playmaker made a £21 million switch to Cesc Fabregas’ Como. And it is part of the reason why head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay has installed Raphael Onyedika as their top target.

Musah, certainly, has more in common with Onyedika than he does Baturina.

A highly versatile and physically imposing footballer who loves to drive forward from deep. Musah was likened to Paul Pogba in his younger days by former England Under-17 coach Steve Cooper, however, and his highlight reel from Milan will show a few jinking runs and the odd shimmy or shake.

Yet, first and foremost, Musah is a player who would give Potter the drive and intensity he is looking for.

Though when it comes to grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and producing match-changing contributions, this is where the one-time Arsenal youngster is maybe lacking, as the aforementioned Di Canio explains.

Paolo di Canio has reservations about West Ham United target Yunus Musah

Speaking to Sky Italia after Milan agreed a deal to sign Samuele Ricci from Empoli, Di Canio provided a brief rundown of the current midfielders at the Rossoneri’s disposal.

Ricci, he feels, should help to counterbalance the weaknesses of Musah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Youssouf Fofana in the centre of the park.

“Fofana is a physical player but with little tactical astuteness. Loftus-Cheek is a midfielder who can get into the game, technical, but not physical and in the heart of the game,” Di Canio argues.

“Musah can do a few things. He is dynamic but he is shy in taking on certain responsibilities. Here, Ricci is the most interesting figure that Milan could have made.”

In 80 Milan appearances, Musah has not scored a single goal though he does have five assists to his name. If West Ham are looking for a jack-of-all-trades sort of enforcer, Musah would represent a clear upgrade on Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez but he will not be emulating Tomas Soucek’s threat in the penalty area.

Nottingham Forest and Wolves join race as Milan agree to let Musah go

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport., Nottingham Forest made contact with AC Milan a few days ago. West Ham are also likely to face further competition from Wolverhampton Wanderers, a return to England looking increasingly likely after Musah saw his £21 million move to Napoli collapse.

Igli Tare, the Rossoneri’s sporting director, has already admitted that Yunus Musah will be allowed to leave the San Siro. The returning Max Allegri, it appears, is looking for a midfielder with other ‘characteristics’.

“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 told 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].”