West Ham United are not the first Premier League club to come calling for Fiorentina’s giant midfielder Amir Richardson. And, in truth, they are probably not the last.
The Morocco international’s agent confirmed, shortly after his client had secured a move from Reims to Serie A last summer, that Everton had missed out alongside Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Eredivisie powerhouses Ajax.
Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City were also linked, around the same time.
So Diego Tavano, Richardson’s representative, is used to being asked probing questions about the future of the 6ft 6in colossus. Questions which reared their heads again this week.
As Edson Alvarez faces an uncertain future and after Guido Rodriguez struggled to settle in English football, West Ham United have seemingly made an athletic, physically imposing central midfielder a top priority this summer.
James Ward-Prowse endured a disappointing campaign of his own. Carlos Soler has gone already, and Tomas Soucek could follow him.
But what are the chances of Amir Richardson being the man to fill a gap in Graham Potter’s squad?
Amir Richardson’s agent has played down West Ham United chances
According to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Fiorentina may be willing to move Richardson on for just £8.5 million.
The France-born Moroccan, who could also have represented the USA at international level thanks to his former basketball star father Michael Ray Richardson, started only ten of his 27 Serie A appearances during the 2024/25 campaign.
But, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb just a day before those West Ham links emerged, Tavano indicated that La Viola are not ready to give up on Richardson just yet.
“He has played at a very high level in the last three months,” Tavano said of a man who took his time to settle in Italy but forced his way into the first XI towards the end of the season.
“I think Fiorentina want to keep him. But we must keep our attention high because he is a player who is liked at an international level.”
West Ham target Raphael Onyedika amid Valentin Atangana links
Like a number of the midfielders linked with a move to the London Stadium, the near-two metre tall Richardson would bring size and steel to the Hammers’ engine room.
Hammers News also understands that West Ham have identified Raphael Onyedika – the £20 million-rated Nigeria enforcer who plays in Belgium for Club Brugge – as their priority target to reinforce the centre of the park.
The N’Golo Kante-inspired Valentin Atangana was linked a few days ago, meanwhile, following a breakout season in France with Rennes.
“Onyedika has a very good first touch on the ball,“ scouting site Total Football Analysis explain of a versatile midfielder seemingly most at home in a deep-lying playmaker role.
“He is [also] one of the most critical progressors for his side and is very crucial for their transition from the first to the second phase, and the second to the third phase in possession.
“Onyedika has that security on the ball where he is very good at covering it and protecting it under pressure from the opponent. Due to his physicality, he has the ability to shield it with his strength. Due to this, it’s not easy for the opposition players to dispossess him.
“Overall, his ability on the ball in possession is very good and is one of the crucial aspects of Club Brugge’s tactics in possession. Since he is still young, he could probably iron out some of the inconsistencies he has in his game as he ages.”
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