Make no mistake, it was certainly not a case of ‘Mateus Fernandes or nothing’ for West Ham United during the final few days of the Premier League’s summer transfer window.
While the eventual £40 million acquisition from Southampton became the club’s top target for the number eight position heading into the last couple of weeks, West Ham United had missed out on enough players at that point to realise the risk of putting all their eggs in the Mateus Fernandes basket.
Hammers News can confirm that West Ham made a bid for Ivan Ilic of Torino, offering a fee of £17 million.
Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Aleix Garcia was a target too, alongside his Bundesliga teammate Exequiel Palacios. Andy Diouf and Djaoui Cisse, two of Ligue 1’s rising talents, were monitored as well, alongside Werder Bremen ace Romano Schmid, Ajax’s Kenneth Taylor and Feyenoord’s Quinten Timber.
The Guardian also threw Christantus Uche’s name into the frame.
And, three days after Graham Potter welcomed Mateus Fernandes to the London Stadium, Uche completed a transfer of his own to the English capital.
When Crystal Palace travel across the city on September 20th, then, the battle between Uche and Fernandes should make for intriguing viewing. The midfielder West Ham got, up against one of his various alternatives.
West Ham United considered Christantus Uche before he joined Crystal Palace
Uche joined Crystal Palace from Getafe for £17 million before Monday’s 7pm deadline.
In the space of two years, he has gone from the third tier of Spanish football to England’s top-flight. Uche evolved rapidly into one of the most effective and versatile operators in La Liga. While initially signed as an imposing central midfielder – as emphasised by the number six on his back – Uche was transformed into a broad-shouldered centre-forward by Getafe’s uber-pragmatic head coach Jose Bordalas.
He would not have been a like-for-like Mateus Fernandes alternative, then. A different profile, yes, but one just as capable of driving into the penalty area and injecting some intensity into a sluggish midfield.
“This moment is unbelievable. I’m very lucky to be here today and this club is a big opportunity for me,” Uche, who joins on loan with an obligation-to-buy clause in his contract, tells the official Crystal Palace website.
“Crystal Palace is a team that every young man wants to play for. It’s a perfect match for me. I know that I can bring something and I know that I can grow from this.”
Uche explains Premier League ‘dream’ as London Stadium trip looms
Uche should make his Palace debut after the international break, at home to Sunderland.
Mateus Fernandes is already a West Ham favourite, meanwhile, on the back of his all-action display in the 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
“[To play in the] Premier League was a dream, it’s been a big dream for me,” Uche adds. “Since I was a kid I was watching Premier League all the time, and praying one day that I would play in the Premier League.
“I can’t wait to step out at Selhurst Park. That’s the moment I’m looking forward to. I can’t wait for them to cheer my name on, for me to get started and be happy.”
As for the other midfield targets on West Ham’s shortlist, Ilic stays at Torino. Aleix Garcia, another who had a spell as a youngster at Manchester City, is ready for a new head coach at Leverkusen following the comically-short reign of Erik ten Hag.
Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese was relieved to see Quinten Timber stay put beyond the close of the window, meanwhile, even if his contract situation leaves the door open for West Ham to return a few months down the line.
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