“West Ham Set to Wage EPIC WAR for £42M ‘GOD-TIER’ Midfield Maestro – The GREATEST Since Rice!”
West Ham United are undergoing a crucial summer rebuild following a disappointing 2023/24 season that saw them finish 14th in the Premier League.
The club parted ways with Julen Lopetegui after just 20 games, but his replacement, Graham Potter, failed to spark a turnaround.
As Potter heads into the new campaign, he faces pressure to deliver results quickly — a task made more difficult by a weakened squad and the urgent need for reinforcements.
One major concern remains central midfield. Throughout last season, both Lopetegui and Potter experimented with numerous midfield combinations but failed to find a reliable partnership.
Aside from Tomáš Souček, West Ham lacked consistency in that area, which has been a lingering issue since the departure of club icon Declan Rice.
To address this, West Ham are reportedly in a transfer battle with Everton for Brazilian international Douglas Luiz, who joined Juventus from Aston Villa for £42.35 million just a year ago.
However, his move to Italy has been underwhelming, with Luiz featuring in only 17% of Juventus’ total minutes.
Former Juve midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi described the transfer as a “disaster,” prompting the Italian club to consider offloading him permanently.
Despite his struggles in Turin, Luiz was a standout performer during his time at Aston Villa. Over five seasons, he made more than 200 appearances and was widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s top defensive midfielders.
He was named both Supporters’ and Players’ Player of the Season in 2022/23 and maintained his high level into the following year, creating over 50 chances — the most at the club. His evolution under Unai Emery saw him improve both offensively and defensively.
When comparing Luiz’s final season at Villa to Rice’s last at West Ham, the Brazilian led in most attacking and passing metrics.
While their defensive stats were more evenly matched, Luiz’s offensive impact was clear.
If West Ham can secure his signature, Luiz could prove to be the club’s most influential midfielder since Rice.
A return to the Premier League — and to claret and blue — could revitalise his career while addressing a glaring weakness in the Hammers’ midfield.
