Cast your mind back to the summer — a transfer window that saw West Ham repeatedly linked with three attacking midfielders: Jacob Ramsey, Harvey Elliott, and Mateus Fernandes.
There were, of course, plenty of other names floated in various positions, but it was clear from early on that the Hammers were prepared to spend big on a creative midfielder.
In the end — much to my personal delight — the club sanctioned the signing of Mateus Fernandes, who now looks to be settling nicely into life under compatriot Nuno Espirito Santo.
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For much of the summer, though, it was Liverpool’s England U21 star Harvey Elliott who appeared the most likely arrival. Alongside fellow England youth internationals Tyler Morton and Charlie Cresswell, it seemed only a matter of time before then-manager Graham Potter pushed for one of them.
Fernandes is starting to look the real deal at West Ham
Elliott’s Struggles Prove West Ham Right
I only mention this because Elliott’s name popped up again today while reading The Athletic’s piece on his struggles since joining Aston Villa. To be honest, I’d completely forgotten about him — and after finishing the article, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps West Ham dodged a bullet.
That’s not to say Elliott isn’t talented — far from it. But as I wrote at the time, I always hoped the club would sign Fernandes instead. Elliott, for all his flair, has always struck me as something of a luxury player — technically brilliant, but perhaps lacking the athleticism and bite needed to thrive in West Ham’s midfield.
Fernandes, by contrast, has mobility, an eye for a pass, and the kind of grit that allows him to operate as both a number 8 and a number 10.
According to The Athletic, not even in Elliott’s worst nightmares could he have imagined how badly things would unravel just ten weeks after leaving Liverpool. The 21-year-old, once tipped for senior England honours, now finds himself unwanted by his parent club, frozen out on loan at Villa, and miles away from international contention.
He’s played just four minutes of football in the last six weeks, appearing as a late substitute against Feyenoord in the Europa League. The report also claims Elliott feels “badly let down” after being promised regular game time under Unai Emery, which has simply never materialised.
All told, while Elliott’s situation might still turn around, it’s hard not to feel that West Ham got this one right. In Fernandes, the Hammers seem to have found the player we were hoping for.