Unfortunately for Simon Adingra, as reports emerge claiming that West Ham United have held talks with the Sunderland winger, the mind conjures up one, rather sorry image.
A ferocious Ivory Coast break, led by former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe. As Pepe picked out an unmarked Adingra at the far post, all he needed to do was slot past Manuel Neuer and Les Elephants would have secured a famous victory over four-time World Cup winners Germany.
Instead, Adingra faltered, an awful first touch allowing the Germans to recover.
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Just to emphasise the ‘sliding doors’ nature of such a moment, only five minutes later, deep into darkest stoppage time, Deniz Undav punished Adingra with the kind of ruthlessly dead-eyed touch and finish the reported West Ham United target could only dream of conjuring up down the other end.
According to French reporter Sebastian Denis, West Ham have held talks with Adingra’s camp.
If East London is to be his destination, a year of many challenges for the young Ivorian may require Nuno Espirito Santo to rebuild his confidence. Because, no matter what he achieves from here on out, for the time being, that miss will be the first thing many think of when Adingra’s name is mentioned.
West Ham appointed Rui Pedro Silva as their new assistant coach on Monday. One suspects his more ‘arm around the shoulder’ approach could come in handy if Adingra does indeed join.
West Ham United hold talks with Sunderland’s Simon Adingra
That the Ivory Coast’s clearest chance of a winning goal fell the way of the one-time Brighton youngster, though, should not have come as much of a surprise.
As Crysencio Summerville dreams of a move to Manchester United, his potential replacement is a man who has a tendency to, as they say, make things happen.
Harry Redknapp, former West Ham player and coach, kept a very keen eye on Adingra during his debut Premier League campaign with Brighton in 2023/24. What he discovered – particularly during a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in October of that season – is that Adingra and excitement go hand in hand.
“I’ve been keeping my eye on Adingra during Brighton’s games, and boy did he play well against Liverpool,” Redknapp said after watching the youngster profit from an Alexis MacAllister error by curling the ball past a vulnerable Alisson from all of 25 yards.
“Every time he got the ball he looked like he was going to do something with it.
“He was giving Robertson, such an experienced player, all sorts of problems. I liked his finish for his goal too, he took it nice and early. He was unlucky to not get another and gives Brighton a different dimension on that side.”
In an era where many top wingers are known for their ‘ball retention’ rather than their ability to ‘make something happen’, Adingra is a refreshing throwback. Only a sprawling Alisson denied him a brace that day after he left Robertson with twisted blood during another thrilling breakaway.
Adingra’s Brighton stats were similar to Mo Salah and Mohammed Kudus
As Monaco giddily pointed out, before Adingra’s impressive loan spell in the Principality last season, the former Nordsjaelland and Uniont Saint-Gilloise attacker averaged the third-most dribbles per Premier League match in 2023/24. Behind only Ebere Eze and then-West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus.
He ranked just below Mo Salah, Bukayo Saka and Erling Haaland when it came to touches in the opposition box, while Adingra also sat inside the 93rd percentile for defensive actions.
He doesn’t always finish the chances which come his way – as Germany found out to their immense relief – but Adingra will keep putting himself in positions where goalscoring opportunities arise.
Simon Adingra for £17m? What are you saying?
“His versatility was a very important asset. That’s the number one argument [for signing him],” recently-departed Monaco coach Sebastian Pocognoli said after Adingra scored a brace in February’s 3-1 win over Nantes.
“When Simon appeared on the list of available players, I said he was very interesting, because he can play on the right, on the left, in support of the striker or as a wing-back.
“We were able to see all his attacking qualities, so I’m very happy with his performance, also on the defensive side.”
Hammers News can confirm that Crysencio Summerville has his heart set on Manchester United this summer. The Dutchman’s likely departure means that, should Adingra drop down to the second tier in search of the kind of regular starts he struggled to obtain at Sunderland, he will likely take Summerville’s spot on the left-hand side.
The Black Cats would likely listen to offers of around £17 million, too. That was the fee Sunderland asked of Monaco, only for Les Monegasques to decide against a permanent move despite Adingra recording an impressive three goals and two assists in ten Ligue 1 starts.
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