Tim Steidten may have just solved West Ham’s midfield dilemma, saving the club millions — with Mohamadou Kante looking every inch the monster they’ve been searching for.
West Ham’s all-important midfield rebuild has hit serious problems this week.
Graham Potter’s prime target Jacob Ramsey has chosen Newcastle over the Hammers as he closes in on a £40m move.
Southampton have also rejected a £30m bid from West Ham for Mateus Fernandes, demanding another £20m to do a deal.
Other midfield targets have also been snapped up with Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall joining Everton and James McAtee set to sign for Forest.
Potter’s West Ham midfield rebuild hits big problems
It leaves Potter and the Hammers board under huge pressure, especially with the transfer window closing two weeks on Monday.
West Ham’s midfield has been the club’s biggest problem since Declan Rice’s departure.
Between them David Moyes, Tim Steidten, Julen Lopetegui and the owners have made a mess of replacing Rice, failing to rejuvenate the team with the kind of power, pace, energy and enthusiasm their former skipper brought to the side.
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Until now.
And it’s right under everyone’s noses.
West Ham head coach Graham Potter watches on from the sidelines
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Speaking ahead of the start of the new Premier League season this week, Potter once again reiterated he is focused on the players he has given West Ham’s difficulties signing a new midfielder.
“I don’t think we needed drastic change,” he told BBC Sport.
“It’s tempting to think that the solution is going to be external but, from my perspective, the focus should always be on the players you have – with an eye on improving.”
Now there is one player Potter has who could prove that stance right and change everything.
West Ham can cancel the midfielder search because Steidten has signed an absolute monster in Mohamadou Kante.
Steidten actually made 10 signings in his only window in full control of recruitment.
Cancel the search Steidten has signed West Ham a monster
And the one many have forgotten about could be the best of the lot.
West Ham United have signed promising French midfielder Mohamadou Kanté from Ligue 2 club Paris FC ⚒️
The 18-year-old joins the Club on a five-year contract and will return to Paris FC on loan for the 2024/25 season. pic.twitter.com/O0cjSevy0p
— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 22, 2024
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Towards the end of the window last summer, West Ham announced the signing of Mohamadou Kante from Ligue 2 club Paris FC for a reported £500k.
The talented young box-to-box midfielder has all the ingredients in his game the Hammers are missing – and he showed that with one of the most eye-catching debuts for a long time as West Ham’s Under 21s beat Woking overnight.
Kante joined the Irons on a five-year deal last summer and returned to Paris FC on loan for the 2024/25 season.
He played his part in helping the Red Bull-owned club get promoted to Ligue 1, but after signing for West Ham, Kante was somewhat sidelined by the Red Bull setup.
Kante is very highly rated in France – and now everyone at West Ham has seen why.
Young West Ham star Mohamadou Kante warms up alongside Edson Alvarez
Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Diame regen Kante could save West Ham millions
In a scintillating 30-minute debut cameo for West Ham’s Under 21s, Kante scored a brilliant goal and played a huge part in the second as West Ham ran out 2-0 winners.
Yes it is “only Woking” but Kante looked a colossus in the midfield and readymade to have a big impact in the Premier League.
Big, powerful, strong, quick and skilful, Kante evoked memories of one of the most exciting central midfielders West Ham have had in modern times, Mohamed Diame.
For his goal, he robbed the ball in midfield, strode forward – just like Diame used to – and smashed the ball home from the edge of the box.
Kante is rangy and mobile and his legs eat up the ground like Diame’s used to.
https://x.com/damienlucas/status/1955868077859479925
His passing was composed and intelligent and his skill level for such a big and powerful midfielder will take many by surprise.
The ball was like a magnet on Kante’s foot for West Ham’s second as he waltzed past challenges before doing a Zinedine Zidane-esque 360 spin into the area, which opened the space to create Lewis Orford’s goal.
Steidten may have divided opinion and made some poor signings at West Ham.
But his £500k parting gift Kante looks like he could be the best of the lot and save the Hammers millions in their midfield search.