What West Ham fans need to know as Mory Gbane trait proves divisive potential
West Ham United supporters could go on an emotional rollercoaster with Mory Gbane.
Nuno Espirito Santo is still yet to make his first new signing of the summer at West Ham.
Outgoings have been the order of the day so far, but with the calendar already striking mid-July, the Hammers need to start getting a move on with their recruitment drive.
Reims midfielder Gbane could be the Irons' first new face through the door this summer, which would be a sight for sore eyes after Mateus Fernandes' move to Tottenham.
West Ham will know that they're going to be in a war every time they take the pitch next season, with every side in the Championship no doubt circling their two clashes with the Hammers.
Because of this, Gbane would bring something to the table that should help Nuno's side win their physical battles, but it's a trait that offers potential for much fan frustration.
Why Mory Gbane could be Championship match made in heaven
The Championship is a tough old division, and many a newly relegated Premier League side have learnt that to great cost.
Being able to compete physically is equally as important as fielding a good footballing side, and that's where Gbane could prove so vital to West Ham.
West Ham Zone has covered Gbane being likened to Yaya Toure by the French media, and with them both being Ivorian midfielders standing around 6'2" tall, it's not hard to see why.
However, whilst Toure was best known for his silky style of play as well as his goalscoring ability, Gbane is certainly building a reputation for himself as a player who loves a yellow card.
Indeed, as per FotMob, Gbane picked up 10 yellow cards in just 26 Ligue 2 appearances last season, which worked out an average of 0.51 cautions per game.
On top of that, he also won 40 aerial duels as well as making 34 tackles and blocking eight shots respectively, so he's not a player West Ham fans would need to worry about in terms of being up to the physical demands of the Championship.
But, should he continue to pick up that same volume of bookings at the London Stadium, then he may run the risk of becoming a player whom supporters grow frustrated with.
That being said though, there is now a vacancy in the Hammers' squad for someone to fill as their lead yellow card collector.
Where did West Ham rank in the disciplinary charts last season?
With the aforementioned Fernandes now at Spurs, West Ham's yellow card leader from last season's Premier League campaign (seven) is now gone.
In addition to that, Crysencio Summerville and El Hadji Malick Diouf finished just behind Fernandes with six each, and they both could well leave E20 over the coming weeks too.
Per FotMob, the Hammers ranked sixth in the Premier League in 2025-26 for fouls per game with 11.1, whilst placing 11th for total yellow cards picked up with 68 respectively.
So, Gbane might be precisely what West Ham are looking for in this respect, as Nuno evidently doesn't mind seeing his players getting stuck in.
The Championship is a long and gruelling campaign though, and the Hammers boss will surely want to strike a balance with Gbane if he was to sign in order to ensure he's not a liability for suspensions.