There was once a time when the brightest young defensive midfielders on the market were labelled the second coming of Claude Makelele. Now, like the rising star reportedly on the radar of Premier League outfit West Ham United, N’Golo Kante is very much the modern-day the benchmark.
For all those budding enforcers looking to make a name for themselves at the elite level, Kante’s extraordinary success at Leicester City, Chelsea and with the French national team makes him the go-to inspiration for the new generation.
And Valentin Atangana, the Stade Reims ace linked with a move to West Ham United this month, is no different.
Edson Alvarez has struggled on the Premier League stage. And, while Guido Rodriguez is playing down a reported move to River Plate, the Argentina international similarly lacks the mobility to survive amongst the hustle and bustle of English football.
Bringing Atangana to the London Stadium – especially for a reported £8.5 million – would be a step in the right direction as West Ham look to ‘reinvent’ Graham Potter’s squad around a core of young, hungry talent.
As for those N’Golo Kante comparisons, the glowing praise of Reims coach Luka Elsner will be music to the ears of Hammers fans hoping for an athletic, all-action number six capable of providing a shield of steel in front of a shaky backline.
Valentin Atangana could be West Ham United’s answer to N’Golo Kante
According to Sport BILD, perennial diamond-polishers Eintracht Frankfurt have been alerted to Atangana’s fine displays across the border in France.
Lazio and Fiorentina have taken note of the Cameroon-born France Under-21 international as well, while West Ham could face competition from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Now, to quote the aforementioned Elsner, Atangana is best known for his ‘exceptional ball-winning’ qualities at the base of the Stade Reims midfield.
But they say the ‘best ability is availability’ for a reason.
The fact that Atangana missed only 193 minutes of Ligue 1 action last season, while starting 33 out of a possible 34 matches, means West Ham would not only be getting a fierce defensive midfielder with shades of a young N’Golo Kante but also a near ever-present capable of lasting the pace across an entire campaign.
“He is an exceptional ball-winner, who [understands the] science of defensive positioning and springing forward, almost without committing any mistakes. Very rare for his age,” Elsner told L’Equipe after Atangana snatched back possession eleven times during a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain last autumn.
“In addition, he has an elegance and technical quality that suggests there is no limit to what he can accomplish if he continues to work well.”
Ligue 1 starlet Atangana is developing into a complete midfielder
In addition to his impressive off-the-ball numbers, Atangana also completes 87.8 per cent of his passes. A higher tally than any current West Ham player outside of James Ward-Prowse.
Kante, of course, was more than a destroyer. The Champions League and World Cup winner also blossomed into a superb technician in the blue of Leicester, Chelsea and France.
Atangana, meanwhile, already appears to possess a skillset broader than most his age.
“[Kante] really inspires me,” Atangana says. “Both as a player and with his personality.”
The teenager’s first and so-far only Ligue 1 goal – running in behind before clipping a clever finish over the advancing Marseille goalkeeper in a 3-1 win – also highlights an adventurous streak which, if encouraged, could make Atangana one of the most complete young midfielders around.
“We are in line with the hopes placed in him, and he has lived up to them brilliantly,” Elsner said after Atangana, an U17 European Championship winner in 2022, signed a new contract a few months ago.
“Now, a new stage awaits him. [He is] consistently meeting expectations and progressing even further. It’s fantastic to have a player who has his roots here and who expresses himself with talent.
“He has a mentality that perfectly embodies the club’s values; work, constant progress, and personal development.”
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