Will Graham Potter secure any more new signings before the start of West Ham United’s Premier League campaign?

So far this summer, the cash-strapped Hammers have brought in both Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters on free transfers, while El Hadji Malick Diouf has arrived from Slavia Prague for a reported fee of £19m.

However, given that Mohammed Kudus has been sold to Tottenham for around £55m, the Irons are still in the market for midfield reinforcements, so have they pinpointed their prime target?

West Ham's search for a new midfielder

Earlier this week, it was reported that West Ham had identified Jacob Ramsey as their ‘top target’, willing to spend around £30m to secure the signature of the midfielder.

However, it was claimed that Aston Villa value the 24-year-old at close to £43m, with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham also purportedly interested, meaning this certainly will not be an easy deal to finalise.

Thus, potentially in need of an alternative, Football Insider reports that the Hammers are ‘plotting a late-window move’ for Mateus Fernandes of Southampton, adding that the Saints are ‘reluctant’ to sell, but the Portuguese under-21 international is ‘keen’ to return to the Premier League, following his side’s relegation.

It’ll therefore be interesting to see if he is involved in their EFL Championship opener against Wrexham at St Mary’s on Saturday.

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Fernandes joined Southampton from Sporting CP for £15m as recently as last August, but there claims he could fetch as much as £50m, which would make him West Ham’s record signing, surpassing the record of £45m held by Sébastien Haller.

Of course, the later into the window we get, if Fernandes pushes for a move, potentially the stronger West Ham’s negotiating position gets, so could the 21 year old soon swap the South Coast for the East End of London?

What Mateus Fernandes would bring to West Ham

Fernandes joined Sporting Clube de Portugal at the age of 12, and is the latest product of their academy forecast to go to the top.

He actually made just ten appearances for Sporting, his only goal in green and white hoops coming against Farense​​​​​​​ in the Taça da Liga group stages, spending the 2023/24 season on loan at fellow-Primeira Liga outfit Estoril Praia, before Southampton were convinced to sign him.

Analyst Ben Mattinson is certainly a fan, labelling him a “massive talent’, outlining that “passing​​​​​​​” and “vision” are his key attributes, adding that he is a “solid ball-winner” and a “press-resistant midfielder”.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout agrees, asserting that he is a “big talent” who is definitely capable of remaining at Premier League level, while Kevin Araújo Fernandes of Breaking the Lines adds that he is ‘capable of covering ground with real intensity’, making him an ‘extremely talented’ all-round midfielder.

Ahead of Southampton’s visit to Old Trafford in January, Rúben Amorim, who was his manager at Sporting, described Fernandes as a “really good player​​​​​​​” who is able to “overload the midfield” from wide areas, a skillset that should translate well to Potter’s West Ham team.

Nevertheless, the question remains: how does Fernandes compare to the Hammers’ other top midfield target Ramsey? Let’s find out.

Appearances

42

45

Minutes

3,365

2,074

Goals

3

4

Assists

6

7

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Shots

0.7

0.7

Shots on target %

63.64%

33.33%

Chances created

1.1

1.1

Big chances created

0.18

0.28

Passes attempted

38.2

31.5

Duels contested

12

9

Tackles

2.8

1.7

Clearances

1

0.5

Interceptions

0.9

0.5

Ball recoveries

5.6

4.6

Touches

59

46

Average SofaScore rating

6.95

6.87

Caveats required for both: Ramsey’s minutes were limited last season due to injury and lack of selection, while Fernandes was playing for one of the worst teams in Premier League history, with Southampton collecting an ignominious 12 points.

With that out the way, the Portuguese midfielder’s underlying statistics are almost universally more impressive across the board, ranging from passing and touches, to out-of-possession metrics, namely duels, tackles, ball recoveries and interceptions.

The fact Southampton struggled so much may directly correlate as to why Fernandes’ defensive metrics were so high but, with many forecasting a tough campaign for West Ham too, this could certainly be useful.

Thus, if the Hammers are able to secure the highly-rated Portuguese youngster for a reasonable fee, he would surely prove to be a shrewd addition.

Kudus replacement: Bellingham-esque £40m star is now West Ham's top target

West Ham need attacking difference makers, having sold Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham, hence why they’re chasing a £40m star “similar” to Bellingham.

ByBen Gray Aug 8, 2025

Kobbie Mainoo has reportedly had concerns over his Manchester United future for months as the midfielder eyes a January exit. Mainoo was once hailed as the heartbeat of United’s next generation, but fast-forward to September 2025, and the 20-year-old is facing the harshest dilemma of his young career: fight for scraps at Old Trafford or walk away temporarily to save his England dreams.

• Mainoo unsettled by the lack of minutes
• Loan move blocked, but could revive
• Contract talks stalled under new regime

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Mainoo has grown increasingly unsettled over his lack of opportunities under manager Ruben Amorim and even asked for a loan move before the transfer window slammed shut. That request was rebuffed, but the door could reopen in January. Mainoo’s push wasn’t a last-minute panic call. The youngster and his camp had been weighing up his situation for months before formally speaking to Amorim and football director Jason Wilcox. Their fear was simple: limited minutes at United risk derailing his progress and destroying his chances of making Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next summer’s World Cup.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Whispers of discontent have been swirling since the turn of the year. It's reported that Mainoo first grew uneasy when stories broke that United might cash in on him or fellow academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho to ease Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) pressures. At that time, Mainoo sought advice from a former player but chose to stay quiet. It was only toward the end of the summer that his frustrations boiled over, prompting the loan request. Napoli emerged as a serious destination, but United vetoed the move. Insiders believe the deal could be revisited in January if Mainoo’s role doesn’t improve, though only if United secure a suitable replacement.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Looming over the playing-time saga is a contract cloud. Mainoo penned fresh terms in 2023, tying him to Old Trafford until 2027, with the club holding an option for another year. Following his breakout at Euro 2024, early talks began about upgrading his salary to reflect his rising profile. But since Sir Jim Ratcliffe assumed a controlling role, those conversations have frozen. With Ratcliffe’s regime placing stricter controls on wages, Mainoo’s future looks no clearer off the pitch than on it.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAINOO?

  Mainoo’s absence from Tuchel’s latest Three Lions squad hardly raised eyebrows, given his lack of playing time. Yet for the teenager, it was a hammer blow. Just over a year ago, he was touted as a future midfield general for England, but now he stands on the outside looking in.

Shamar Joseph is unfit and Alzarri Joseph has chosen the ILT20 over the Test series in Pakistan

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2024

Trinidad & Tobago batter Amir Jangoo has earned a maiden call-up to the West Indies Test squad for the two-match series against Pakistan, which begins on January 16 in Karachi. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie returns to the side, having missed the two Tests against Bangladesh at home last month as he was playing at the inaugural Global Super League in Providence.Motie will be leading West Indies’ spin-bowling contingent, which also has Kevin Sinclair and Jomel Warrican.Jangoo and Motie replace the fast-bowling duo of Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph. While Shamar is suffering from shin splints which forced him to miss the ODI series against Bangladesh earlier this month, Alzarri is unavailable because of a clash with the ILT20 in the UAE, where he will be turning out for MI Emirates, which CWI termed as “other engagements” in their release.Jangoo was rewarded for his consistent performances in the domestic four-day competition in 2023-24, when he scored 500 runs in five matches at an average of 63.50, with two centuries and a fifty, to be Trinidad & Tobago’s highest run-getter. Jangoo also recently smashed a century on ODI debut against Bangladesh to help West Indies ace their third-highest chase in the format.”Motie rejoins the squad to bolster the spin attack, while Jangoo’s selection comes on the back of his consistency across formats in regional cricket, as well as his demonstrated high level of competency against spin bowling,” West Indies head coach Andre Coley said. “For the Test series against Pakistan in January 2025, the focus is on building on what we have done well, and transforming the learnings from 2024 into tangible results.”The rest of the squad remains on expected lines. Kraigg Brathwaite will lead the side, with wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva as his deputy. Mikyle Louis, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty and Justin Greaves will form the crux of the batting unit.On the fast-bowling front, Kemar Roach will lead the attack, and will have Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip for company.Next year’s tour of Pakistan will be West Indies’ first Test series there in more than 18 years. They had last played Tests in Pakistan in November 2006, although they did play Pakistan in a Test series in the UAE in October 2016.The 15-member West Indies squad will depart on January 2, and arrive in Islamabad on January 6. The first Test will run from January 16-20 in Karachi, before the teams depart for Multan, where the second Test will be played from January 24-28.West Indies squad for Pakistan TestsKraigg Brathwaite (capt), Joshua Da Silva (vice-capt), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican

Sheffield United certainly suffered from a rude awakening on the opening day of the new Championship season.

Bristol City travelled to Bramall Lane with last campaign’s playoff agony at the hands of the Blades still evidently on their mind, as the Robins exposed constant weaknesses from the hosts to run out as unexpected 4-1 victors.

It hasn’t got any better for Ruben Selles with another two defeats smacking his forlorn team in the face, as the ex-Hull City boss now also attempts to welcome in more new signings before September comes around to turn around this dire start to his reign.

The Blades will be hoping that their next James McAtee-level signing is waiting in the wings, as the Manchester City outcast instantly settled into his South Yorkshire surroundings once upon a time to secure promotion.

McAtee's heroics at United

McAtee looks to be on the move this summer away from the Etihad for good, as the 22-year-old finally appears out from the periphery at the Citizens to try and become another side’s leading man.

When he was chucked into the first-team fold at Bramall Lane back in 2022, the silky, 5-foot-10 attacking midfielder was an instant hit, leading to McAtee extending his loan deal with the club to the following season when Premier League action was on the menu.

In total, the England U21s regular would pick up a stunning 14 goals and eight assists from 75 clashes in South Yorkshire, with a hefty 12 of those coming in the second tier as United jumped back up to the big time via automatic promotion.

Selles will still be dreaming of similar promotion heroics this season, even with the defeats piling up early on, with one signing potentially sticking out as a McAtee repeat if it gets over the line.

The "incredible" £10m star who could be a McAtee repeat

As much as McAtee did enhance the attack during his time at Bramall Lane, the priority in the here and now for Selles and Co. might well be to strengthen defensively.

Indeed, in recent weeks, the Championship promotion candidates have been dealt a harsh blow in losing first-team star Anel Ahmedhodzic to Dutch giants Feyenoord, after the Bosnian lined up for 42 contests last season as a key individual.

Therefore, picking up some fresh blood at the back could be integral to their promotion hopes, over needing to add some spellbinding forward players.

That’s where Callum Doyle could come in handy, with SportsBoom previously speculating this month that the Etihad-based youngster is on the United shopping list this summer, alongside a whole host of other EFL suitors.

Norwich City are also being floated about as a party keen on bringing back their former loanee to Carrow Road off the back of him hammering home a sweet strike such as this one he put away with confidence last season, despite predominantly lining up as a centre-back presence.

It could cost any potential suitor around the £10m mark to land the up-and-coming 21-year-old, but this might well prove to be a price worth paying on United’s end if Doyle’s added presence gifts Selles and Co. the boost they desire in the promotion reckoning.

Games played

40

Goals scored

1

Assists

7

Touches*

93.9

Accurate passes*

65.7 (86%)

Big chances created

7

Ball recoveries*

3.9

Clearances*

3.8

Total duels won*

3.8

Clean sheets

5

Doyle certainly showed off a lot of the same class McAtee brought to proceedings in South Yorkshire when plying his trade in Norfolk last campaign, with a standout seven assists picked up when playing his assured game out from the back.

On top of that, he also won an admirable 3.8 duels per contest for the Canaries, with his potential addition to a depleted backline making the loss of Ahmedhodzic sting less.

Hailed as “incredible” by his Norwich teammate Kenny McLean for his unerring ability with the ball at his feet, it does feel as if Doyle is ready for a switch where he shines even further up the EFL’s elite league, much like McAtee was handed in 2022.

History could repeat itself even more if Doyle is the calm and assured warrior who pushes Selles’ men up to those coveted promotion spaces despite such a bleak introduction to Championship life this season, as his senior game is taken to yet another level.

Sheffield United could land the next Rak-Sakyi with move for "special" ace

Sheffield United could gift Ruben Selles his own Jesurun Rak-Sakyi with this summer move.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 6, 2025