With Edson Alvarez gone and Soungoutou Magassa ‘closing in’ on taking the Mexican’s place at the Premier League outfit, progress has finally arrived regarding West Ham United’s long-awaited midfield overhaul.
Graham Potter’s side have ran into their fair share of obstacles in pursuit both incomings and outgoings.
Guido Rodriguez will be denied a Real Betis reunion, the Argentine putting the La Liga outfit at the top of his wishlist but his desires not reciprocated at the Estadio Benito Villamarin. Celtic are yet to meet Andy Irving’s £3.5 million price-tag, meanwhile, and offers for James Ward-Prowse have simply not been forthcoming.
But could the departure of a certain Mexico captain be the turning point West Ham United were crying out for?
On the same day that Edson Alvarez arrived at Fenerbahce, posing for photos in his new yellow and navy colours, West Ham made their move for Monaco ace Soungoutou Magassa.
And, through chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, Hammers News can now reveal that Magassa is ‘closing in’ on becoming the first midfield signing of the summer at the London Stadium.
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty ImagesWest Ham United want Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa to replace Edson Alvarez
Graham Potter ideally wants two midfielders through the door between now and the start of September. A ball-carrying number eight, and a deep-lying number six.
Magassa falls into the latter category, with Bailey confirming that West Ham view the France Under-21 international as a suitable Alvarez replacement at the base of Potter’s engine room.
“West Ham are closing in on Soungoutou Magassa,” Bailey explains. “They have assessed nearly a dozen targets, they like Magassa in terms of his fit but have been waiting on Edson Alvarez.
“West Ham are relieved that Edson Alvarez is done now. They were worried and Alvarez took his time to decide but [his move to Fenerbahce is] finalised now and it won’t be the last. That has allowed them to find a new central defensive midfielder and am I told that Magassa ticks their boxes for what they want.
“The hunt for the dynamic midfielder like Matheus Fernandes is different. They want two in this area.”
🚨⚒️ Understand West Ham official bid to AS Monaco for Soungoutou Magassa is worth €17m plus €3m add-ons.
Negotiations advancing. pic.twitter.com/xCVXZo3wEB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 22, 2025
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While Southampton rejected an improved £32m offer for Mateus Fernandes a few days ago – the Saints are holding out for £40 million – Magassa could get done for an initial £15 million.
Fabrizio Romano reports that negotiations are ‘advancing’ with Monaco regarding a deal which could eventually set the Hammers back £17.3 million with add-ons and bonuses.
A graduate of the Monaco academy, Magassa is destined to become the latest big-money departure from the Principality outfit. Bernardo Silva, Fabinho, Anthony Martial and Youri Tielemans all made the switch across the Channel, to name but four.
And Magassa will be hoping to emulate their success in a claret and blue shirt.
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty ImagesMagassa could be Graham Potter’s new number six as West Ham scour Ligue 1 market
As expected, given his defensive-minded nature, the youngster provided only one goal and one assist in 31 appearances last season. Magassa did average the second-most tackles per game of any Monaco player in his breakout 2023/24 campaign [2.7], though, while averaging the third-most in 2024/25.
Magassa also boasts an 85 per cent pass completion rate in France’s top tier.
Given that Graham Potter wants his number six to be an adept distributor as well as a capable disruptor, he appears to fit the bill both on and off the ball.
“I like this position [the number six] because you run more, you see more of the ball,” Magassa told Get France Football News. “But I try to bring as much as possible as a defender [too].
“I have a lot of fun in midfield and I like the position a lot.”
The Guardian report that the London Stadium outfit scouted the best young midfield talent in French football ‘extensively’ before making progress with Magassa.
West Ham like Andy Diouf and Djaoui Cisse of Lens and Rennes respectively, though both players are likely to be viewed as alternatives to the more attack-minded Mateus Fernandes.