With Soungoutou Magassa close, and discussions ongoing surrounding Ibrahima Sangare, Mateus Fernandes and Exequiel Palacios, the phrase ‘better late than never’ comes to mind regarding West Ham United’s long-overdue midfield rebuild.
Soungoutou Magassa has reportedly chosen West Ham despite a late hijack attempt from Nottingham Forest.
What Evangelos Marinakis wants, he usually gets. But not this time, perhaps.
Monaco’s sporting director Thiago Scuro admits that ‘things are moving’ as Magassa prepares to sign a six-year deal worth an initial £14 million at the London Stadium. That, then, is a number six [almost] through the door.
Hammers News can confirm that West Ham plan to replace Edson Alvarez with the powerhouse France Under-21 international following the Mexican’s departure to Turkey.
Looking further forward, quite literally with a dynamic number eight also high on Graham Potter’s pre-deadline wishlist, Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes remains a priority.
West Ham have made a loan offer for Ibrahima Sangare, though it feels hard to imagine Forest would be willing to let him go so readily having missed out on Magassa, but Bayer Leverkusen’s World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios is another liked at the London Stadium.
So, while Dutch reporter Martijn Krabbendam believes that Quinten Timber is very much available for the right price, fans of 2023 Eredivisie giants Feyenoord can seemingly sleep a little easier as West Ham United pursue other options.
Martijn Krabbendam believes Feyenoord would sell Quinten Timber to West Ham United
The Guardian mentioned Quinten Timber last week when providing a deep dive into the club’s midfield longlist.
Andy Diouf, Kenneth Taylor, Djaoui Cisse, Romano Schmid are also admired, while Hammers News have been informed that West Ham approached Torino’s Ivan Ilic regarding a £17.5 million deal for the one-time Manchester City youngster.
As for Timber, Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese has heard nothing from the Londoners at this stage.
Timber is a huge fan favourite at De Kuip, and the prospect of a star performer leaving in the final days of the window will have many supporters wondering if they are destined to fall behind PSV Eindhoven and Ajax in this season’s title fight.
Krabbendam, though, feels that Feyenoord will be in no position to reject an offer should one arrive. Timber, reportedly valued at £23 million, has less than 12 months left on his contract while discussions over a new deal appear to have hit the buffers.
“If the opportunity arises, Feyenoord will sell him. They still have a chance [to cash in]. Currently, no one has approached Feyenoord, perhaps even their agents.” Krabbendam tells FC Rijnmond and, a few days previously, Vandaag Inside.
“Feyenoord are not aware of any Leverkusen or West Ham contact. [But] if one of those two were to come, there’s a very good chance he would leave.
“That is also in Feyenoord’s best interest, because otherwise, he’ll walk out of De Kuip for free next year.”
Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa set to join with Graham Potter targeting a number eight as well
While Magassa could bring a Moises Caicedo-esque intensity to Graham Potter’s engine room – one of the most promising and effective number sixes on the market – Timber feels like an alternative to top target Mateus Fernandes for the number eight role.
Dutch icon Rafael van der Vaart labels Timber a ‘Champions League-level’ performer, though the hit-rate of Eredivisie imports on English shores is mixed to say the least.
“My position today is that Quinten Timber is the only Feyenoord player who can reach the Champions League level,” Van der Vaart told Studio Voetbal.
“I think he’s the only Feyenoord player who can reach the absolute top.”
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