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West Ham midfield signing encounters obstacles, chasing Fernandez and Casardo

11:10pm, 20 August 2025Football

The shameful result of the 0-3 defeat to Sunderland in the first match of the new season exposed West Ham's midfield shortcomings. According to authoritative sources, coach Graham Porter has urgently launched a multi-line signing program and submitted consecutive offers to Southampton's Mattus Fernandez and Barcelona's Mark Casardo this week. Among them, the first £30 million offer for the 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder has been rejected, and the second offer has not yet met the Saints' requirements. What's even more difficult is that Chelsea directly rejected the Hammers' inquiry against Andre Santos and clearly dissuaded subsequent contacts. Opta data shows that West Ham only ranked 14th in the Premier League last season's midfield defense intensity (PPDA), and the data further deteriorated to 18.7 in the first round of the league, which explains why the club urgently needs to add two midfielders with different traits - both needing to drag the organizers to control the rhythm and desire the frontcourt creativity engine.

Barcelona young player Casado became an unexpected target. Although the Lamacia product, which played 36 games last season, was priced at 25 million euros, the competition of Wolves has increased the trading variables sharply. It is interesting to note that West Ham's synchronous promotion of Plan B reflects the swing of the signing strategy: Lille's Ngare Mucao and Bremen attacking midfielder Romano Schmidt entered the field of vision at the same time, who was marked as "Fernandez alternative" by the scout report. In order to make up for salary space, the club is actively operating Ederson Alvarez on loan to Fenerbahce. The Mexican international, who earns 115,000 pounds a week, has not yet accepted the invitation to the Turkish Super League, and the eye of Porto and Dortmund has made the cleaning full of variables. Transfer market expert David Ornstein pointed out: "West Ham only completed 4 signings this summer, but the list of recommended players has exceeded 30. This passive situation forces the management to make risk decisions."

When the Hammers were running hard in the transfer market, Premier League competitors have quietly completed key reinforcements. Aston Villa officially announced that winger Leon Pele was loaned to Roma, and the operation with a buyout clause demonstrated the savvy of the Serie A club. Although the 28-year-old Jamaica international lost his main position in the second half of the season due to injury, his 144 Premier League experience is the explosive point that Mourinho's system needs. What is more worthy of attention is the Bournemouth Blitz, with £25 million + floating clauses locking in Leverkusen striker Armin Adrie. The Moroccan international came to the Vitality Stadium with the halo of unbeaten Bundesliga champions. His 6.7 successful passes every 90 minutes (StatsBomb statistics) will greatly strengthen the Cherry Legion's counterattack sharpness. Perhaps as the Guardian's tactical column said: "The game in the August transfer window has never been just a money game, but also the ultimate test of intelligence networks and decision-making efficiency."

source:tỷ số bóng đá 7m cn

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