Say what you want about Graham Potter’s tactics, or whether he is the right fit for West Ham United, both Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa will tell you that the under-fire coach talks a good game.
Mateus Fernandes admitted talks with Graham Potter convinced him to make the £40 million switch from Southampton to East London on Friday morning.
The former Chelsea and Brighton boss left Fernandes enthralled when explaining the ‘fantastic’ project on offer, and describing a tactical plan the Portugal Under-21 international feels he is tailor-made for.
Some eleven hours later, West Ham United were given a Friday night treat when Soungoutou Magassa completed his initial £14 million move from French giants Monaco.
Potter highlighted Magassa’s ‘very impressive progress’ across the Channel over the last two seasons during the midfielder’s unveiling.
As recently as 2023, Magassa went head-to-head with Freddie Potts and co when Monaco’s reserves met West Ham’s Under-21s. A year later, he was facing Benfica, Inter Milan and Arsenal in the Champions League.
The man himself, meanwhile, admits that Potter also played a key role in Magassa rejecting plenty of other offers from at home and abroad.
West Ham United target and Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassa playing for France's U21s
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Soungoutou Magassa explains how Graham Potter lured him to West Ham United
West Ham’s official website welcomed Magassa to the London Stadium while claiming that the Premier League strugglers had snapped him up ‘ahead of a number of leading European clubs’.
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Eintracht Frankfurt tried to hijack the deal twice this week. Roma were linked.
Nottingham Forest were desperate to sign Magassa too; West Ham securing some early bragging rights ahead of Sunday’s trip to the City Ground.
And whatever happens regarding Potter’s future from here on in, his role in transforming a middling midfield should not be underestimated.
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“I’m very happy to be here. It’s a very big club. I hope to do great things for this club,” Magassa explains. “It was an opportunity I couldn’t say no to.
“[Potter] told me that it’s a very big club. It has a very long history in England with a passionate fanbase and a big stadium. It convinced me. I talked to him and I got very close to him. I hope to do great things, as I said.
“It’s a very, very big club in London. It has a very good stadium. I’m looking forward to meeting the very good supporters. Playing in a full stadium is a dream.
“It’s a great pride to play for this club. I’m going to do everything I can to make everyone happy. I’m going to give my all on the pitch.”
Graham Potter celebrates during West Ham United FC v Fulham FC - Premier League
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Magassa tells Hammers fans what to expect from former Monaco starlet
Magassa has shades of Moises Caicedo, the lynchpin of Potter’s midfield in happier times at Brighton and Hove Albion. He and Fernandes, both 21 years of age, should bring the dynamism and mobility so lacking from a pairing of James Ward-Prowse and Guido Rodriguez/Tomas Soucek.
Tellingly, when asked to describe his style of play in one word, Mateus Fernandes said ‘intensity’.
Magassa, meanwhile, paints the picture of a footballer whose never-say-die spirit should make him an immediate fan favourite.
“As a player, I think I am quite a complete player who likes to make a big effort to fight for my teammates, the fans and the club. I don’t try and cut corners,” adds the 2024 Paris Olympic silver medallist.
“As a person, I am quite calm, I like to laugh and be around people, and I don’t take life too seriously.”
“I’ve played alongside a lot of international players, and I’ve learnt that you have to be patient, you have to work hard, and you have to be disciplined. Success comes with hard work.”
Soungoutou Magassa takes the number 27 shirt previously worn by the likes of Dimitri Payet, Rio Ferdinand and Tony Cottee. While Fernandes could make his debut against Nottingham Forest, Magassa will have to wait until after the September international break to pull on the claret and blue for the first time.