The words West Ham and ‘blow’ have accompanied one another in far too many stories so far this transfer window but there is a huge positive to the latest.
Graham Potter is plotting a midfield overhaul at West Ham this summer transfer window.
The Hammers boss admitted the team is ‘nowhere near how he wants them to play’ after picking up just five wins from his 19 games at the helm.
It has been apparent for some time now that West Ham’s midfield is the biggest problem which needs to be addressed.
Despite initially appearing to have done well in replacing Declan Rice with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, the reality is very different.
The Irons are sorely lacking the kind of athleticism and dynamism Rice brought to the team, let alone his quality.
Potter’s midfield revolution key to fixing West Ham
Potter has inherited far too many of the same profile of midfielder – many of them ageing and slow.
Fixing that problem this summer will be key to how well West Ham do next season.
Potter and head of recruitment have a host of midfield targets on their wish list.
Two of the names right at the top of it play for the same club.
Raphael Onyedika is said to be West Ham’s prime midfield target this summer.
Nigerian international Onyedika is the man West Ham believe can transform the team.
Onyedika, 24, has been likened to Moises Caicedo and is the man who starts off the majority of moves for Club Brugge, taking the ball from the goalkeeper.
West Ham also like his Club Brugge midfield partner Ardon Jashari.
The ‘Swiss Casemiro’ is a stocky, all-action star who complements Onyedika perfectly.
The good news for the Hammers is that the Belgian club have already admitted they will likely have to sell both Onyedika and Jashari this summer.
But it wouldn’t be a West Ham transfer chase without some bad news.
Because West Ham suffered a fatal blow in their bid for a Club Brugge midfielder – but there is a beautiful twist on cards.
Other top clubs – including AC Milan – have been linked with midfield lynchpin Onyedika.
West Ham suffer fatal blow in bid for Club Brugge midfielder
But West Ham received a boost recently when the Italian giants reportedly pulled out of the running after it emerged West Ham had pre-emptively agreed personal terms with Onyedika ahead of the Hammers hierarchy trying to agree a price with Brugge.
It was also stated Onyedika only wants a move to the Premier League.
Getting the money together for that deal is the biggest problem for the Hammers right now.
Now a fresh development out of Italy is on the face of it a crushing blow for West Ham.
But in reality it could be a blessing in disguise in more ways than one.
Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri has exclusively revealed that AC Milan have made an official offer for Jashari amounting to around £27m including bonuses.
Beautiful Onyedika and Musah twist for Hammers
Tavolieri states Jashari is now AC Milan’s top priority in the midfield and they want to close out a deal soon with £30m set as a limit.
That means West Ham’s hopes of getting Jashari are now all but dead.
But it also confirms that Milan have moved on from West Ham’s prime target Onyedika.
Not only that, West Ham have reportedly been in talks with the San Siro giants over a £20m move for their USA midfield ace Yunus Musah.
It was claimed just last week that Milan have offered Musah to the Hammers as they too look to overhaul their midfield.
That’s after the Rossoneri beat West Ham to the signing of 22-year-old Musah when he was at Valencia.
Musah is an athletic, dynamic midfielder who shares very similar attributes to Rice.
So while Milan moving for Jashari eliminates another West Ham target, it very much opens the door for Potter to get one – or perhaps two – others.
But, as with everything for West Ham this window, it all comes down to money being available.
That may not be an issue too much longer, though.
Because a Hammers duo have taken drastic action to force through moves.
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