West Ham may struggle to sign Divine Mukasa from Manchester City permanently if they are expelled to the Championship, football finance expert Stefan Borson says.
West Ham signed Divine Mukasa on loan in the summer, and the midfielder has made a good impression early on. The Manchester City prospect has locked down a starting role at WHUFC with Nuno Espirito Santo entrusting him in the middle alongside big-money man Arne Engels.
Mukasa’s early success and the uncertainty over City’s future amid their 114 guilty charges verdict has prompted hope that the 19-year-old could stay at the London Stadium permanently. However, football finance expert and ex-Man City advisor Stefan Borson believes the chances are slim. He told Football Insider: “Ironically, these sorts of players that City are going to be calling on, you would think, will be the academy players.
Championship Roundup
“So I would think that the very big players, in the event of relegation, will go, and Man City will have to form a squad that mixes the players that remain and the best prospects they have from the academy. And a lot of those are the players who are going to be the ones that are out on loan right now.”
Why West Ham may already have eyes on potentially keeping Divine Mukasa permanently
We’re only in the early days of the season, but West Ham will have long-term transfer plans in mind. The recruitment chiefs won’t only have eyes on January; they’ll be considering potential options for next summer too.
Mukasa will certainly be in their thinking. He is a highly regarded midfield talent with huge potential, having earned his call-up to the England U21s over this ongoing international break.
Given the standard of his early performances and the situation at Manchester City, WHUFC may already be thinking of a permanent stay for the London-born prospect. A full-time deal or second loan are not out of the question.
However, as Borson says, his fate will ultimately be decided by the situation at his parent club. Mukasa could come to the fore if City are punished as severely as some fear.
The Verdict: Mukasa’s path after West Ham stay will be decided by Manchester City case outcome
Mukasa is most certainly on an upward trajectory. After his half-season loan with a relegated Leicester City, he is now spending the campaign with a West Ham side who have eyes on automatic promotion back to the Championship.
A future in the Manchester City first-team is not out of the question in the years to come, and depending on how the club are punished for their financial regulation breaches, it could be that Mukasa ascends rapidly. If they were to drop to the Championship, you have to think they would view him as an option to bring into the senior side.
Divine Mukasa’s Championship stats
Games Goals Assists
22 4 3
Star players and big midfield assets would be sure to depart for higher level clubs if City are given a big enough points deduction to be relegated or immediately banished from the Premier League. Their punishment is yet to be decided, but clubs and players alike will be keeping a close eye on the matter.
It will likely decide what comes next for Mukasa. But, for now, he will be focusing on impressing with WHUFC to put himself in the best position possible.