adminFirst West Ham pocketed a staggering £85 million from the sale of Mateus Fernandes—a deal that not only kept the London Stadium lights burning but also took a hefty chunk out of the club’s debt.
Most fans saw it coming, and plenty even tipped their hats to the board for squeezing Tottenham dry on the price tag.
Then came Freddie Potts’ departure, which whisked another promising young midfielder out of Nuno’s squad and added another £10 million to the bank balance.
That one raised more than a few eyebrows, with supporters pointing out that—without Soucek and possibly Alvarez too—West Ham were starting to look worryingly thin in the centre of the park.
Now, word has emerged that yet another Hammers midfielder is in talks over a move to Crystal Palace, suggesting the so-called “changing of the guard” is nearly complete.
The news won’t come as a huge shock, given the weeks of silence surrounding Soungoutou Magassa’s lack of game time this season. According to Givemesport.com, citing French insider Fabrice Hawkins:
“He Wants to Join: Crystal Palace Hold Talks to Sign West Ham Star
Crystal Palace are in discussions to sign West Ham midfielder Soungoutou Magassa in the summer window.”
With Arne Engels already through the door and Divine Mukasa’s arrival confirmed today, it’s becoming clear that Magassa’s future lies elsewhere, as he continues to slide down the pecking order at London Stadium.
Selling him would mark the final dismantling of a trio—Potts, Magassa, and Fernandes—that once, however briefly, promised a bright future in West Ham’s engine room. That bubble has now well and truly burst.
Still, you can’t help wondering if Nuno is aiming his fire at the wrong part of the pitch. While the midfield is being systematically broken up, it’s the porous, shambolic defence that’s crying out for a radical overhaul—and so far, that hasn’t materialised.
From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds Stand these days—though I’ll admit, I haven’t renewed my season ticket. Been watching since ’03, and a supporter since around 1970.
Favourite player? Dean Ashton. I still find myself watching YouTube replays of the 2006 Cup Final, hoping in vain that Shaka Hislop might somehow grow six inches and keep out Steven Gerrard’s injury-time equaliser.
You know you’re getting old when you realise you saw both Mark Noble’s debut and his final game in Claret and Blue. And even now, pulling on that replica shirt still gives me the same butterflies I felt at seven years old. Pure magic.
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