{"id":85572,"date":"2025-08-22T18:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T18:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/85572\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T18:00:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T18:00:10","slug":"why-west-ham-chose-soungoutou-magassa-as-hammers-close-in-on-14m-monaco-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/85572\/","title":{"rendered":"Why West Ham chose Soungoutou Magassa as Hammers ‘close in’ on \u00a314m Monaco deal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With Edson Alvarez gone and Soungoutou Magassa \u2018closing in\u2019 on taking the Mexican\u2019s place at the Premier League outfit, progress has finally arrived regarding West Ham United\u2019s long-awaited midfield overhaul.<\/p>\n

Graham Potter\u2019s side have ran into their fair share of obstacles in pursuit both incomings and outgoings.<\/p>\n

Guido Rodriguez will be denied a Real Betis reunion<\/a>, 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\u2019s \u00a33.5 million price-tag<\/a>, meanwhile, and offers for James Ward-Prowse have simply not been forthcoming.<\/p>\n

But could the departure of a certain Mexico captain be the turning point West Ham United<\/a> were crying out for?<\/p>\n

On the same day that Edson Alvarez arrived at Fenerbahce<\/a>, posing for photos in his new yellow and navy colours, West Ham made their move for Monaco ace Soungoutou Magassa.<\/p>\n

And, through chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, Hammers News can now reveal that Magassa is \u2018closing in\u2019 on becoming the first midfield signing of the summer at the London Stadium.<\/p>\n

\"SoungoutouPhoto by Jonathan Moscrop\/Getty ImagesWest Ham United want Monaco\u2019s Soungoutou Magassa to replace Edson Alvarez<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s engine room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWest Ham are closing in on Soungoutou Magassa,\u201d Bailey explains. \u201cThey have assessed nearly a dozen targets, they like Magassa in terms of his fit but have been waiting on Edson Alvarez.<\/p>\n

\u201cWest 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hunt for the dynamic midfielder like Matheus Fernandes is different. They want two in this area.\u201d<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8\u2692\ufe0f Understand West Ham official bid to AS Monaco for Soungoutou Magassa is worth \u20ac17m plus \u20ac3m add-ons.<\/p>\n

Negotiations advancing. pic.twitter.com\/xCVXZo3wEB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 22, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

While Southampton rejected an improved \u00a332m offer for Mateus Fernandes<\/a> a few days ago \u2013 the Saints are holding out for \u00a340 million \u2013 Magassa could get done for an initial \u00a315 million.<\/p>\n

Fabrizio Romano reports that negotiations are \u2018advancing\u2019 with Monaco regarding a deal which could eventually set the Hammers back \u00a317.3 million with add-ons and bonuses.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

And Magassa will be hoping to emulate their success in a claret and blue shirt.<\/p>\n

\"WestPhoto by Eddie Keogh\/Getty ImagesMagassa could be Graham Potter\u2019s new number six as West Ham scour Ligue 1 market<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Magassa also boasts an 85 per cent pass completion rate in France\u2019s top tier. <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI like this position\u00a0[the number six]\u00a0because you run more, you see more of the ball,\u201d Magassa told Get France Football News<\/a>. \u201cBut I try to bring as much as possible as a defender [too]. <\/p>\n

\u201cI have a lot of fun in midfield and I like the position a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Guardian<\/a> report that the London Stadium outfit scouted the best young midfield talent in French football \u2018extensively\u2019 before making progress with Magassa. <\/p>\n

West Ham like Andy Diouf and Djaoui Cisse<\/a> of Lens and Rennes respectively, though both players are likely to be viewed as alternatives to the more attack-minded Mateus Fernandes.<\/p>\n