Presented to the Hammers’ faithful ahead of kick off yesterday, Mads Hermansen became West Ham’s new number one with the unveiling of both the player and his squad number to London Stadium onlookers.
More details have emerged regarding the deal which saw West Ham part with just £15.5 million in what looks pretty good negotiating by the Hammers: Leicester City originally quoted £30 million for the Dane so full credit to whoever saw that transfer over the line.
However, abundantly clear to fans all of last season, the midfield is still without pace or creativity and urgently in need of recruitment before the window closes. Worryingly, the Hammers appear to have brought in players in reverse order to their priority, which means just six days remain before the Premier League kicks off and there’s still no sign of the desperately required midfield upgrade.
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According to inside source exWHUemployee, that is all set to change before the Sunderland game.
Top target Southampton midfield prodigy Mateus Fernandes will be the subject of a West Ham bid following ‘Villa’s Jacob Ramsey’s reluctance to head to east London. As ‘Ex’s‘ report puts it:
“Fernandes was a sub for the Saints today and it was said that this was largely down to our and other clubs interest…I do think we will step up our efforts to sign him next week…I suspect a bid will go in for the player from us again soon”
Top of the shopping list now: Portuguese u21 international Mateus Fernandes
There’s a lot of competition for Fernandes’ signature, as one of several relegated players who is simply too talented for the Championship. Adding him to a revamped midfield squad including Freddie Potts and fit-again George Earthy would certainly give Graham Potter a welcome boost of pace and creativity.
Whether there is wiggle room from their reported £30 million-plus price tag will be another issue altogether and largely dependent upon who else bids.
Whilst Fernandes is Potter and Macaulay’s top target, they are more than likely to keep other irons in the fire – Leicester’s Bilal El Khannous has been mooted, amongst others – to attempt to force that Saints’ asking price down during the week.