“SHOCKINGLY UNBELIEVABLE TALENT! West Ham’s Website Goes WILD Over ‘JAW-DROPPING’ £17M Prodigy Ngal’ayel Mukau – You WON’T Believe What They Said!”

Unless Southampton or Aston Villa significantly lower their asking prices in the coming weeks, the Belgian-born DR Congo international Ngal’ayel Mukau could continue to feature prominently in transfer speculation right up until the September deadline.

Sources have told Hammers News that Aston Villa are valuing midfielder Jacob Ramsey at around £50 million.

Meanwhile, Southampton turned down West Ham United’s £30 million bid for Portuguese Under-21 star Mateus Fernandes earlier this week.

Although negotiations for Fernandes are ongoing, Graham Potter’s transfer budget is unlikely to stretch much beyond the £50 million mark without the club first sanctioning several key player sales.

That financial reality means Mukau could emerge as a more affordable yet still highly appealing alternative.

West Ham fans were given an early glimpse of the Lille midfielder during Saturday’s pre-season friendly against LOSC Lille at the London Stadium — a match in which the club’s official website had already spoken glowingly of the player in its preview.

On a day when James Ward-Prowse once again failed to fully convince in midfield, Mukau’s commanding display in Lille’s colours may have strengthened his case as a viable West Ham target.

According to Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sports, the Hammers are showing “serious interest” after watching Mukau complete the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw.

He also converted his penalty in the ensuing shoot-out, with Alphonse Areola producing two crucial saves.

Discussions have now opened between West Ham’s hierarchy and the player’s representatives. Lille, however, will not part with the towering 20-year-old cheaply.

With his contract running until 2028, the French side can negotiate from a position of strength.

Still, Tavolieri suggests that bidding could start around £17 million — a fee far below the hefty sums needed for Ramsey or Fernandes.

In its pre-match preview, West Ham’s website highlighted Mukau as one of the “incredible talents” to emerge from Lille in recent years.

Other notable graduates include Yves Bissouma and Carlos Baleba, who both joined Brighton, and Amadou Onana, who attracted West Ham’s interest before moving from Everton to Aston Villa.

Mukau’s 17-year-old teammate Ayyoub Bouaddi is also tipped for a high-value transfer in the near future.

The club’s preview described Mukau simply but effectively: “an impressive young midfielder” — and, by Premier League standards, a relatively affordable one.

Earlier this summer, Hammers News reported that West Ham had identified Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge as their top midfield target, following the guidance of head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.

Interest in Ramsey and Fernandes appeared to intensify after Onyedika’s camp made it clear he was in “no rush” to leave Belgium before the transfer window closes.

Tavolieri notes that Onyedika remains on West Ham’s “extensive” shortlist, which now also features Lille’s 6ft 2in powerhouse Mukau.

Mukau began his career as a defensive midfielder at KV Mechelen, where he posted an impressive 3.9 tackles per game during the 2023/24 season. Since moving to France, he has evolved into more of a box-to-box presence.

His Champions League debut at the age of 20 was particularly memorable — he scored twice against Bologna, joining a rarefied group of players, including David Trezeguet, Karim Benzema, and Kylian Mbappé, to net a brace in their first appearance in the competition.

Lille head coach Bruno Genesio was full of praise for his young midfielder after that performance.

“He’s an aggressive player, with a big volume of play, capable of winning the ball directly from the opponent,” Genesio said.

“He’s also forward-thinking, able to drive forward with his first touch and add verticality to our attacks.”

For West Ham, Mukau represents not just a cost-effective target compared to other midfield options, but also a player with the potential to make a significant impact in both domestic and European competition.