Chief among West Ham United’s summer targets are a number of players who possess what you could call a ‘proven’ track record of success in the English second-tier.
Sydie Peck and Jordan James are among the names reportedly under consideration to join a Mateus Fernandes-less midfield. Stoke City’s Sorba Thomas could replace Crysencio Summerville a decade after the Londoners released the Barking-born winger from their academy.
Nestory Irankunda [Watford], Abdul Fatawu [Leicester City], Ivor Pandur [Hull], Bobby Clark [Derby County] and Ben Wilmott [Stoke] have also been mentioned as potential West Ham United recruits.
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But when it comes to Anthony Musaba – the former Sheffield Wednesday winger now at Turkish giants Fenerbahce – the Hammers may be barking up the wrong tree as the wait for reinforcements drags on.
West Ham United target Anthony Musaba wants to stay at Fenerbahce
Dutch publication Soccernews reported a fortnight ago that West Ham and Wolves had expressed an interest in Musaba, alongside Premier League newcomers Hull City.
It was also alleged that Fenerbahce would consider offers of around £5 million.
But a month out from Fenerbahce’s Super Lig opener away to Genclerbirligi, it appears that neither Musaba nor his Istanbul-based employers are considering a parting of the ways.
The 25-year-old Dutchman is looking forward to another title tilt in 2027. And, if Fenerbahce had any real plans of cashing in, it would be an odd move to conduct a wide-ranging season preview with Musaba on their official website, as they did on Friday.
“There is a very good atmosphere right now. At the same time, as a team, we are very excited for the new season, in terms of achieving Fenerbahce’s goals,” said Musaba. “God willing, I hope that I will perform much better this season than last season.
“We need to work very hard to become [Turkish] champions. Our biggest goal and desire is, of course, to win the championship. Our first official Champions League match [a qualifier against Gornik Zabrze] will be played soon.”
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Having had spells in the Netherlands with NEC Nijmegen and Heerenveen, Musaba is someone that former PSV Eindhoven technical director Nils Koppen will know from his time in the Eredivisie.
Koppen was unveiled as West Ham’s Director of Player Recruitment this time last week. The Belgian’s ‘first focus’ is to find players capable of bringing Premier League football back to East London, before consolidating the Hammers among the elite.
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Whether Musaba could do the second part is anyone’s guess, but he’d surely ace the first. The one-time Monaco youngster shone during his first season at Sheffield Wednesday in 2023/24, scoring seven times and assisting five more in 29 Championship starts.
His numbers have not been anywhere near as impressive in Turkey; one goal and three assists last season. But, despite what reports may say, it appears that neither Musaba nor Fenerbahce have any real intention of listening to offers.
So continues what has been a sluggish start to the window for West Ham.
On Saturday, it emerged that Hamburg are closing in on Troyes talisman Martin Adeline.
West Ham were expected to move for Adeline after banking £85 million from the sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham. The lack of movement may be down to the fact that Koppen is only seven days into his new role – he will have his own views on the club’s recruitment strategy – but it’s fair to say many expected an extensive summer rebuild to be much further along than it is right now.
Musaba is another trail that looks set to go cold.
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