Nuno Espirito Santo
Nuno Espirito Santo
West Ham United are considering a move for Chelsea midfielder Dario Essugo as Nuno Espirito Santo prepares for further departures before the transfer window closes.
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The Hammers have already rebuilt a significant portion of their squad this summer, but the work may not be finished yet.
Edson Alvarez and Soungoutou Magassa could both leave London Stadium before the deadline.
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And according to ExWHUemployee, West Ham have identified Essugo as one potential replacement should either midfielder depart.
The 21-year-old only joined Chelsea from Sporting CP last summer for around £18.5m.
But competition at Stamford Bridge could now present West Ham with an opportunity.
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West Ham consider Dario Essugo move
West Ham are seemingly planning ahead rather than waiting for another midfielder to leave.
Olympiacos have submitted a permanent €8m offer for Alvarez, while Real Sociedad have also shown interest in the Mexico international.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are pushing to sign Magassa after he was left out of Nuno's opening two Championship squads.
ExWHUemployee claims Essugo is one of the names under consideration if either departure goes through, while Real Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa is another option.
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The two players offer very different profiles.
Deossa would bring more of a box-to-box presence, while Essugo is much more naturally suited to sitting at the base of midfield.
That may be particularly important if Alvarez leaves.
Chelsea signed Essugo to provide Moises Caicedo competition
Essugo has been highly rated for a long time.
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He made his Sporting debut aged just 16 years and six days, becoming the youngest player ever to represent the Portuguese giants.
Later that year, he broke Luis Figo's record as Sporting's youngest-ever starter.
After loan spells with Chaves and Las Palmas, Chelsea paid £18.5m to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
BBC Sport reported at the time that Essugo had been identified specifically as a ball-winning defensive midfield alternative to Moises Caicedo, having impressed Chelsea scouts with his development in Spain.
Essugo also explained his own game perfectly during his time at Las Palmas.
He said: "I like to steal the ball and drive forward."
The Portuguese youngster also described himself as a physical player who could provide "defensive security."
Those qualities would certainly give Nuno something different alongside new signing Arne Engels.
Essugo could fill obvious West Ham role
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Engels has been brought in to become one of the major creative forces in West Ham's midfield.
Essugo would offer something very different.
He's aggressive without the ball, comfortable operating as a holding midfielder and capable of carrying possession forward after winning it back.
Chelsea even note that comparisons have been made between elements of his game and former Blues great Claude Makelele.
Essugo himself has also spoken about wanting to learn from Makelele, Michael Essien and N'Golo Kante while still developing his own identity as a defensive midfielder who can operate box-to-box.
There is also plenty of senior experience despite his age.
Essugo made 27 appearances during his season with Las Palmas in La Liga, having previously featured 25 times for Sporting's first team across domestic and European competitions.
His first Chelsea season was disrupted by a thigh injury which required surgery, followed by another setback during his recovery.
He nevertheless returned during the second half of the campaign and has been heavily involved again this summer.
Indeed, new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso even handed Essugo the captain's armband for the final game of their pre-season tour earlier this month.
West Ham move depends on Alvarez and Magassa
For now, this appears to be contingency planning.
Nuno already has several central midfield options and there would be little point adding another defensive midfielder without creating space first.
Alvarez has clubs competing for his signature and Palace are now reportedly making a serious push for Magassa.
If either goes, West Ham appear ready to react and Essugo looks first in line for Nuno and his recruitment team.
Chelsea paid £18.5m for him barely a year ago after identifying him as potential cover for one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
Now West Ham could be offered the opportunity to give him the regular football that remains difficult to guarantee at Stamford Bridge.