West Ham are ready to take the next big step in their summer transfer push as an official bid for Lille talent Ngal’ayel Mukau is about to be triggered – with a key agreement now imminent.
Graham Potter got a rude awakening when West Ham were beaten 3-0 at Sunderland in the opening game of the new Premier League season.
Hammers fans have been bemoaning Potter’s favouritism of James Ward-Prowse in midfield.
The slow, ageing, sideways passing midfielder had another shocker at the Stadium of Light.
Reliable Hammers hero Tomas Soucek made more of an impact in his limited time on the pitch than Ward-Prowse had all game.
Potter’s West Ham midfield brutally exposed from day one
It was also notable that West Ham lost the all-important aerial battle against Sunderland with Soucek dropped to the bench.
Potter sparked further fan fury by suddenly leaving out young star Freddie Potts, who was a starter all pre-season, for another slow, ageing midfielder in Guido Rodriguez.
Edson Alvarez, who has been one of West Ham’s worst performers over the last 18 months, was kept on the bench as Andy Irving came on ahead of the Mexico captain and Potts.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Alvarez then sent a cryptic West Ham post on social media immediately after the game suggesting God has a better plan for him.
It wasn’t the first time Alvarez has posted mysterious messages after matches he is not involved in.
Edson Alvarez getting off the West Ham team coach at Sunderland
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
The 27-year-old reportedly had a bust-up with Potter before the game against Southampton last season and was not seen near the squad for three games.
There is clearly an issue between the manager and the midfielder.
And West Ham’s overall midfield issue is plain for all to see too.
Now there could be a solution on both fronts.
Because an official West Ham bid for all-action Ngal’ayel Mukau is set to be triggered with a deal imminent.
Alvarez exit to trigger official West Ham bid for all-action Mukau
Madrid-based Turkish journalist Zafer Ertas claims a deal to seal Alvarez’s West Ham exit will result in the Hammers making their move for Mukau.
DR Congo international Mukau impressed for Lille against Potter’s side in the final clash of pre-season at the London Stadium.
The 20-year-old Belgium-born all-action star is an international teammate of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Ertas says Alvarez has been pushed to Fenerbahce by agents and looks set to leave West Ham.
Ngal'ayel Mukau during West Ham United v Lille OSC - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
With his impending departure, the Hammers, he claims, are monitoring Mukau’s situation with interest.
Various reports have claimed Alvarez is set to join Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce imminently on loan with either an option or obligation to buy.
But fresh reports emerging today claim at least three other clubs have entered the running just when Alvarez was about to head to Turkey for final talks and a potential medical.
Hammers News reported last week that West Ham are trying to offload Rodriguez, Irving and Alvarez as they look to sign two new central midfielders.
Emerson Palmieri and Maxwel Cornet are also expected to leave while there has been fresh speculation surrounding Konstantinos Mavropanos too.
Midfield clearout to make way for Mukau and possibly another
The woeful performance of the slow and immobile Niclas Fullkrug has seen the majority of West Ham fans wake up to the fact the club also desperately needs a young, powerful forward option too.
With the clock ticking down on the transfer window and West Ham living up to their tags as relegation candidates in that opening day shambles at Sunderland, the pressure is on Potter and the owners.
The Hammers need to move players on to bring in and free up as much money as possible for new arrivals.
So Alvarez leaving can only help – even if a straight sale would have made much more sense.
But you can only sell a player if there are clubs willing and wanting to buy them. If Alvarez leaves on an initial loan then that clearly isn’t the case.