West Ham saw their move for Soungoutou Magassa plunged into fresh doubt overnight after being hit by a second late hijack as he was waiting to put pen to paper.
Monaco talent Soungoutou Magassa was on the verge of signing for the Hammers in a heavily delayed move, but a rival club’s last-gasp intervention put the deal in serious doubt.
It wouldn’t be a West Ham transfer without a bit of drama.
Most of the club’s transfer dealings seem to develop into some sort of saga and it has been no different with France Under 21 defensive midfield shield Magassa.
The 21-year-old flew to London two days ago for a medical and was expected to sign a six-year contract in a £17.3m move from Monaco.
West Ham’s Magassa deal thrown into doubt again
Fabrizio Romano even gave West Ham’s Magassa deal his trademark ‘here we go’ after the player, who can also play centre-back, opted for the Hammers over Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.
It was just the tonic Graham Potter and West Ham fans needed.
A dismal start to the new season has seen the Irons marked down as relegation candidates – and in some cases certainties.
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Bottom of the fledgling Premier League table with a minus seven goal difference after two games and out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle, it’s easy to see why.
West Ham United target and Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassa playing for France's U21s
Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
West Ham’s owners were clearly spooked by what they have witnessed as they launched an unprecedented flurry of bids for new signings.
Magassa is a top target of Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.
He was expected to be unveiled by West Ham on Wednesday night.
But there has been drama overnight as West Ham were hit by second 11th hour hijack for Magassa while he was waiting to sign.
The first of two big twists came on Wednesday night when Eintracht Frankfurt swooped to try and steal Magassa from under West Ham’s noses when there was a problem with his Hammers medical.
Drama as West Ham hit by second 11th hour hijack for Magassa
Top Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna revealed Magassa was ‘very tempted to join Frankfurt’ instead of West Ham, casting doubt on the signing.
There looked to be good news for the Hammers the next day, though.
A German journalist who covers Frankfurt claimed Magassa would be signing for West Ham because their old Europa League semi-final foes had failed in their late move.
But Thursday came and went with no announcement – and now we know why.
Because in astonishing scenes, Frankfurt made a second move to hijack the Magassa deal last night.
Foot Mercato reporters Sebastien Denis and Aouna and Belgian Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri have revealed Eintracht Frankfurt launched a ‘late night offensive’ to scupper West Ham’s move for Magassa.
West Ham United target Soungoutou Magassa during AS Monaco v FC Internazionale - Pre-Season Friendly
Photo by Neal Simpson/Allstar/Getty Images
The news came as West Ham also closed in on the £42m signing of Mateus Fernandes from Southampton.
It seemed almost too good to be true that West Ham would be signing two top young midfield stars on the same day.
Many following the developments live overnight could be forgiven for thinking the real reason for the Fernandes move was because Frankfurt had succeeded in swiping away Magassa.
But in a monumental boost for Potter and the Hammers, it has been revealed West Ham fought off the Frankfurt hijack.
Hammers fight off new Frankfurt hijack to seal Magassa deal
Despite the German club’s attempts to collapse West Ham’s deal, the Hammers have won the day and Magassa will be unveiled as a new signing in east London imminently.
Reporter Denis stated overnight: “Despite a last-minute offensive from Frankfurt, who wanted to hijack Soungoutou Magassa, the latter will indeed commit to West Ham.
“Signature soon.”
His Foot Mercato colleague also reported the news, adding: “Soungoutou Magassa will sign his contract in West Ham in the next hours, despite the interest of Frankfurt.”
And Tavolieri confirmed the news telling West Ham there was now ‘no need to worry’ as Magassa will be joining.
“No need to worry for West Ham United fans,” Tavolieri said.
“Soungoutou Magassa will be a West Ham player on a six-year deal. Official soon.”
West Ham now face a race against time to get Magassa – and hopefully Fernandes – registered in time for the huge Nottingham Forest clash on Sunday.
The Premier League’s registration cut off is midday Friday.