Junior Mwanga could be next as West Ham agree first midfield transfer before deadline
Graham Potter is attempting to complete an overhaul of his West Ham midfield before the transfer window shuts on 1 September.
West Ham have reached a £17million agreement to sign Soungoutou Magassa, with the Monaco midfielder’s arrival expected to be confirmed imminently.
But the Hammers are not expected to be done there, with bids going in for several more players.
West Ham submitted a loan offer for Ibrahim Sangare, with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season from Nottingham Forest.
Guido Rodriguez is expected to leave West Ham before the end of the window, with clubs in La Liga circling for the Argentine.
Junior Mwanga could be next.
West Ham add Junior Mwanga to target list
West Ham are also considering a move for Hayden Hackney, with the midfielders targeted by Potter all clearly possessing the energy that his current options lack.
Magassa should provide exactly that. The 21-year-old is a destroyer in the midfield, using his strong frame and rapid pace to cut out opposing attacks.
And on the ball, the France international is composed and skilful, demonstrating an excellent ability to evade the press and find teammates through the lines.
Strasbourg midfielder Mwanga is similar in many ways, but is prone to driving forward more frequently, often appearing in the box.
Sky Sports reported on 27 August that West Ham are interested in the 22-year-old, who made 19 appearances in Ligue 1 last season.
Junior Mwanga may not be ready for Premier League start
Mwanga would represent a high-potential option for West Ham.
The 22-year-old boasts impressive numbers going forward and going backwards, winning a high number of tackles across the pitch.
However, the France youth international is raw and may not be ready to play a starting role in the Premier League just yet.
| Junior Mwanga | Ligue 1 2024/25 (per 90) |
| Shot-creating actions | 2.05 |
| Tackles | 2.94 |
| Progressive passes | 4.99 |
| Crosses | 1.64 |
Mwanga spent much of last season out of the Strasbourg team, only really establishing himself in the latter stages of the campaign.
That is not to say the midfielder would not be a strong option for West Ham, but he would likely benefit from a role on the bench initially, with his energy likely to make for a great option for Potter.
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