Midfield remains West Ham’s biggest headache as they gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
Despite some solid additions in defense and attack this summer, the Hammers have struggled to offload underperforming midfielders like Guido Rodríguez and Edson Álvarez, both of whom arrived amid fanfare from Real Betis and Ajax but have failed to make the expected impact.
James Ward-Prowse, once a shining light at Southampton, still lingers as an option, but even he has yet to recapture the form that made him a Premier League standout. Potter has even dipped into the academy, giving promising youngster Freddie Potts a taste of midfield duty in preseason, highlighting the lack of established alternatives.
Thankfully, solutions may finally be emerging on the horizon.
West Ham Assessing Lille’s Ngal’ayel Mukau
Lille's Ngal'Ayel Mukau. (REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen)
Lille’s Ngal’Ayel Mukau. (REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen)
According to a new report from The Guardian, West Ham are “assessing” Lille midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau ahead of a potential summer move.
While the Hammers are said to be preparing a bid for Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes as their first-choice midfield target, Potter has indicated he wants “at least two” midfield reinforcements, with Mukau firmly on the radar.
The 20-year-old DR Congo international only joined Lille last summer but has already impressed with his relentless box-to-box performances, combining aggression with technical ability.
Lille coach Bruno Génésio praised Mukau’s style last season: “He’s an aggressive player , with a big volume of play, capable of recovering balls from the opponent’s feet. He’s also a forward-thinking player, who can get forward from the first touch and find verticality.”
Mukau made waves on the European stage when he scored a brace against Bologna in last season’s Champions League—a feat only previously achieved by French greats like David Trezeguet, Karim Benzema, and Kylian Mbappé as teenagers.
With West Ham having already bolstered the squad with proven Premier League talent like Kyle Walker-Peters, Mads Hermansen, and Callum Wilson, it’s high time they injected some youthful grit and dynamism into midfield.
Mukau’s arrival could be exactly the kind of tough, exciting presence Potter needs to finally steady that area of the pitch.