Silly season is in full swing, but West Ham United, hampered by constant administrative shuffling, have not been all too active in the market thus far. That could soon change; in recent weeks, names from all corners of the globe have been floated as potential new and shiny additions at the London Stadium. Which of these names glow the brightest? Who should Hammers fans be getting excited about? What is the verdict on East London’s potential newbies?
The Good
One of the names that has been bandied about most in recent days has been Celtic’s 22-year-old Belgian midfielder, Arne Engels. In fact, it was reported that the player had agreed personal terms with the Hammers on Friday. It would be an interesting deal; Engels would be a rather unique profile within the ranks of West Ham’s squad. Although not a particularly skilled defender or dribbler, he is an excellent passer, a threat in the air, and a connoisseur of the devastating late run into the box. He’s strong, and his subtle body movements often create avenues for roaming in the middle third. The one sticking point is the price tag; the reported £25 million is a lot for a player who has come along throughout his young career, but hasn't been overly spectacular. West Ham have entered 3 bids, which have all been rejected. In a recent interview, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill confirmed West Ham's intent to come for Engels but revealed the bids were way off.
Another midfielder who has been linked with West Ham recently is Amadou Koné, a 21-year-old starlet contracted to Neom in the Saudi Pro League. Koné, who is eligible to play internationally for France, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, is only 5 foot 9, but he plays with a confidence that belies both his height and his age. He’s an expert passer in tight areas and is an immense tackler of the ball (he was in the top 5% of all Saudi Pro League midfielders for duels won per 90 minutes). Although he would have a lot to prove at this level, he possesses the physicality that would bode well for the transition to the Championship.
With the potential exits of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diof, the Irons are also keen to strengthen their depth at the right-back position. Enter Issa Kaboré, Manchester City’s 25-year-old Burkinabé swashbuckler. An absolute nuisance driving down the flank, Kaboré would be the perfect complement to the more defensively-minded Kyle Walker-Peters. He’s Championship-proven, having spent last season impressing on loan at Wrexham (where he racked up eight assists). He’s not the best in defending 1v1 in isolation, but there is much to admire in the player’s crossing and ball-carrying nous.
It would be quite the dilemma if the Hammers were secured the services of Lazio’s 24-year-old winger Matteo Cancellieri; this is a player who unseated Taty Castellanos as the starting striker for Serie A side Lazio just last season. The lack of playing time prompted Taty to let it be known he was not averse to a move away. In January, Lazio reached an agreement just 2 days after the window opened. Which is why this rumor is so surprising. If Cancellieri follows his former teammate to East London, there may be controversy. Just a week ago, there were whispers that West Ham's Argentine forward was annoyed at the possibility that Cancellieri could be a target. Club sources have indicated Taty did inquire about the move and spoke to Nuno Espirito Santo, who reassured him that any move for a striker would be for depth. If West Ham were to pull the trigger, Cancellieri would most likely be used at left wing. He prefers to play as an inverted wing position and possesses a powerful shot. Additionally, he shows a willingness in the press, which is exactly the skill set Nuno is looking for.
The Bad:
There is no real reason the club should be tripping over themselves to secure the services of 20-year-old Frenchman Bastien Meupiyou. He’s a big guy who’s solid in the air and a surprisingly adventurous dribbler. And that’s about it. He’s not an overwhelmingly skilled passer out of the back, doesn’t provide much of a threat on set-pieces, and is worryingly inconsistent defending in 1v1 scenarios. He was fine, just fine for Alverca in Liga NOS on loan from Wolves last year, and nothing more. This is not to say the player is devoid of potential, but West Ham may be too big of a step right now.
Reo Hatate would also perhaps be an unnecessary purchase. He’s a perfectly decent player; a good passer, a good box-crasher. But if West Ham are serious about their pursuit of Arne Engels, Hatate’s presence would seem redundant; his technical profile is pretty similar to his teammate’s, but he possesses a slightly less imposing physical stature and less defensive energy. He’s also a full six years older than his counterpart. Adding the Japanese Hatate wouldn’t be a disaster, but he shouldn’t be the top target in midfield.
Should Reiss Nelson be totally given up on? Perhaps not, but… this is a player who hasn’t put together a season of any real substance or intrigue for at least three years. There’s obvious talent there, but the Irons, looking to return to the top flight at the first attempt, may not be in the right place to focus their resources upon a rehabilitation project. A lot of it is dependent upon the cost of the transaction, and the role the higher-ups at the London Stadium are expecting Nelson to play. A loan or cut-price deal for a handy backup? Fine. But now is not the time to gamble starter-level cash upon a winger who has made six total league starts since the beginning of 2023-24.
And Sorba Thomas is another one who doesn’t quite make sense as a starting left-winger. The 27-year-old Welshman piled on the goal involvements for Stoke last season — 21 in total. But, at the risk of focusing too much on the facts and figures, the underlying numbers weren’t that impressive. He’s an excellent creator, but his dribbling statistics are below par, his defensive numbers are low, and he significantly overperformed his expected goals last season. For a player of his age, you would hope there would be more signs in the data of long-term sustainability; the Hammers would do better looking for a more future-friendly option on the flank.
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