The only thing more frustrating than watching your team struggle to get out of the starting blocks at the beginning of a summer transfer window – ambitious new arrivals remain a distant dot on the horizon for West Ham United – is seeing Premier League rivals snap up players who could have come in very handy.
Late last week, Burnley agreed a deal to sign Quilindschy Hartman from Feyenoord.
One of the most exciting young left-backs in European football is heading to Turf Moor for just £10 million while West Ham United – who reportedly sounded out Hartman a few windows back themselves – risk going into pre-season with only Ollie Scarles at their disposal.
While a source has told Hammers News that reports of a bid for Mario Stroeykens are wide of the mark, newly-promoted Leeds appear to have moved ahead of West Ham in pole position for the Anderlecht starlet.
Liam Delap chose Chelsea and could yet be joined by Emanuel Emegha. Strasbourg ace Emegha is one of West Ham’s top striker targets but the BlueCo connection could see him swap Alsace for Stamford Bridge instead.
And, as Nottingham Forest close in on Brazil and Botafogo hitman Igor Jesus, another talented young forward reportedly on West Ham’s radar in the shape of Juventus starlet Samuel Mbangula could also end up at the City Ground.
Samuel Mbangula in action during Cagliari v Juventus - Serie A
Photo by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images
Nottingham Forest leapfrog West Ham United for Juventus’ Samuel Mbangula
In the space of just one season, Nottingham Forest not only caught up to West Ham but left the Londoners choking on their dust.
It was once the Hammers who were chipping away at the Premier League’s glass ceiling. Threatening to ruin the established order of the ‘big six’ while establishing themselves as regulars in European competition.
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Now, it is Nottingham Forest’s turn. If their remarkable rise under Nuno Espirito Santo owes much to an ambitious recruitment drive, then West Ham’s slide into the bottom half can be at least partially explained by an ill-fated summer of 2024.
West Ham United FC v Nottingham Forest FC - Premier League
Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Graham Potter inherited a squad painfully short of speed and youthful exuberance, particularly in the final third. A problem Samuel Mbangula, the Belgium Under-21 international honing his talents at Juventus, could have helped to fix.
West Ham reportedly saw a bid rejected by Juventus in January. Further claims, this time provided by Calciomercato, reported that the Hammers had not been put off by that £8 million snub, and were planning to renew their interest over the summer.
🚨🌳 Nottingham Forest and Juventus are in talks for both Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah.
Discussions ongoing, no agreement yet as transfer fee over €20m is being negotiated.
Personal terms are also yet to be agreed. pic.twitter.com/VKD98lxPgV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 23, 2025
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But, while Graham Potter is stuck waiting for funds to be freed up at the London Stadium, Fabrizio Romano reports that Nottingham Forest have left West Ham in the rearview mirror once again.
Forest enter talks with Juventus as Graham Potter’s wait continues
Talks are underway with Juventus regarding a £17 million double-deal for both Mbangula and USA winger Timothy Weah.
Still only 21, Mbangula was one of the breakout stars of the 2024/25 Serie A season. Not to mention, one of the relatively few plusses of the frustrating Thiago Motta era at the Allianz Stadium.
A wonderful curling strike on his Italian top-flight debut against Como paved the way for Mbangula to cap his first season of senior football with five goals and six assists across all competitions.
Graham Potter during Manchester United FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
A right-footed left-winger, Mbangula is not the first of his profile to be linked with the Hammers this summer.
Celtic’s Player of the Year Daizen Maeda is reportedly a target, too. Hammers News understands that West Ham remain interested in Baris Alper Yilmaz of Galatasaray as well.
However, until funds are freed up, the likes of Nottingham Forest, Burnley and Leeds will continue to make steps forward while Potter finds himself stuck at square one.