Who is Ngal’ayel Mukau? West Ham register interest in defensive midfielder
West Ham United are interested in signing Ngal’ayel Mukau this summer.
The Hammers completed their fifth signing of the summer over the weekend with the addition of goalkeeper Mads Hermansen from Leicester City.
Graham Potter is exploring options to bolster his side after a poor season last time out, with defensive midfield a key area to address, with the speculation around Guido Rodriguez’s future at the London Stadium.
West Ham look to have identified Mukau as their next potential signing, with the Hammers interested in bringing the Lille midfielder to the London Stadium.
With the Dominican Republic of the Congo international being a young, unknown prospect, West Ham Zone gives you the lowdown on their potential new star.
Mukau has been solid in France
The young star could prove to be a bargain for the Hammers this summer, with Lille expected to demand £17.3million for Mukau.
The midfielder has spent most of his career so far in Belgium with KV Mechelen, where he came through the academy before featuring in the senior set-up.
Mukau moved to Lille last summer for £4.3m and has established himself as one of the top young players in France.
As seen clearly on FBref, the former Mechelen man is an incredible passer of the ball, as well as being solid defensively.
| Ngal’ayel Mukau 2024/25 stats | Total |
| Pass completion | 88.5% |
| Successful take-ons per 90 | 0.77 |
| Progressive passes received per 90 | 2.77 |
| Aerial duals won per 90 | 0.98 |
Mukau ranked in the top half of the percentile for almost all passing categories in France last season, whilst also winning almost one aerial duel a game.
He also wins over two tackles a game, proving he’s not afraid to get stuck into a midfield battle, which is needed in the Premier League.
Mukau will likely replace Guido Rodriguez
The DR Congo midfielder will likely come in as a direct replacement for Rodriguez, with the Argentine’s future at the London Stadium currently uncertain.
Mukau is a lot more progressive in his play than Rodriguez, whereas the former Real Betis man is more suited to doing the dirty work in midfield.
To succeed in the Premier League in 2025, you need to be able to play with the ball at your feet, and the Lille man’s passing ability means he should be able to cut it in the English top flight.
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