West Ham’s pursuit of midfield reinforcements this summer has been dominated by Mateus Fernandes of Southampton, the standout performer for the Saints last season and a top target for Graham Potter.
However, the Hammers’ £30 million plus add-ons bid was firmly rejected, with Southampton reportedly valuing Fernandes at around double that figure.
Despite Fernandes’ apparent eagerness to move, West Ham now appear ready to pivot to alternative options, keeping their deadline-day strategy flexible while ensuring Potter gets the midfield boost he desires.
West Ham Considering Move for Garcia
Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia. (REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler)
Bayer Leverkusen’s Aleix Garcia. (REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler)
According to Hammers News’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, five-time Spain international Aleix Garcia is under consideration as an alternative to Fernandes.
Garcia began his career at Villarreal before being brought to England by former West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.
During his time at City, he made nine appearances, impressing Pep Guardiola with his composure and vision from a deep-lying midfield role, who described him as “special.”
Now at Bayer Leverkusen, Garcia played a pivotal role in the club’s unbeaten Bundesliga triumph in 2023/24. Following managerial changes and a spate of departures from the German side — including Granit Xhaka, Jeremie Frimpong, and Jonathan Tah — Garcia could be part of the ongoing Leverkusen exodus.
Bailey believes Garcia could overtake Fernandes on West Ham’s wishlist if Southampton remain inflexible on their valuation. The Catalan-born 28-year-old is among several alternatives lined up as Potter seeks to bolster his midfield before the summer window closes.
With Fernandes proving difficult to acquire, Garcia offers Premier League experience, technical quality, and tactical intelligence, making him a highly credible option to strengthen West Ham’s spine.