“West Ham’s SHOCKING £42M Bid for a ‘One-Man WRECKING Machine’ – The NEXT Declan Rice Will BLOW YOUR MIND!”

The Premier League has finally returned, but for West Ham United, the excitement has quickly turned into concern after a dreadful opening fixture.

Graham Potter’s men were handed what looked like a winnable game against newly promoted Sunderland on Sunday afternoon, yet instead of collecting an early boost of three points, they were comfortably dismantled 3-0.

The defeat was not just disappointing but alarming, exposing glaring weaknesses that remain unaddressed from last season.

For many fans, it felt like an ominous reminder that unless the club take drastic action in the final weeks of the transfer window, they could easily find themselves in the thick of a relegation battle once again.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope. Reports suggest that West Ham are pushing hard to sign a hugely talented midfielder, a player some believe could become their next version of Declan Rice.

West Ham chase their “new Rice”

West Ham’s business in the transfer market so far can best be described as solid, but far from spectacular.

The arrivals of Kyle Walker-Peters, goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, and El Hadji Malick Diouf have added useful depth, yet they are not transformative signings for a team that only narrowly avoided the drop last season, finishing a mere five points above safety.

Recognising the need for genuine quality, the club appear determined to secure at least one major addition before deadline day.

According to journalist Eduardo Burgos, that target is none other than Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.

Burgos revealed that the Hammers have already tabled an offer worth €53 million (around £42m), though it was swiftly rejected.

Chelsea are not actively looking to part ways with the Brazilian, but history has shown that the Blues are willing to cash in on almost any player if the price is right.

For West Ham, it would be an ambitious and costly deal, but one they must pursue with everything they have. If landed, Santos could be the long-term midfield anchor they have been crying out for since Rice’s departure.

How Santos stacks up against Rice

Of course, it would be premature to suggest that Santos is already at Rice’s level, given the Arsenal man’s reputation as one of the finest midfielders in Europe. Yet the comparisons are not unfounded.

Both players share positional versatility, excelling as central or defensive midfielders, and both possess the physicality, energy, and tactical awareness to dominate in front of the backline.

Santos has earned rave reviews from analysts and scouts alike. Ben Mattinson described him as a “duel monster” and “brilliant at screening the backline,” while respected talent spotter Jacek Kulig went even further, calling him a “one-man war machine in midfield.”

His relentless work rate and ball-winning ability mirror many of the qualities that made Rice such an invaluable figure at West Ham.

Importantly, Santos is not just a defensive disruptor. Much like Rice, he has a knack for driving his team forward and contributing in the attacking third.

Last season, during his loan spell at Strasbourg, the 21-year-old registered 11 goals and five assists across 34 appearances—remarkable numbers for a midfielder.

Mattinson also praised his intelligent timing when “crashing the box” and his ability to progress the ball into dangerous areas, giving him a well-rounded profile.

The underlying statistics further strengthen his case. According to FBref, Santos ranked in the top 3% of Ligue 1 midfielders for tackles won, the top 5% for non-penalty goals and goals per shot, and the top 8% for dribblers tackled, all on a per-90 basis.

These figures highlight a player capable of breaking up opposition attacks and immediately turning defence into attack with driving runs or incisive passes.

A transfer West Ham must fight for

With the squad looking light in terms of genuine match-winners, West Ham’s hierarchy cannot afford to play it safe.

Their opening-day defeat showed the risks of relying on incremental improvements rather than bold investments.

Santos represents the type of signing who could lift the team’s entire level, offering both short-term impact and long-term value.

Securing him will not be straightforward, but if West Ham are serious about avoiding another relegation scrap, they need to stretch themselves.

Santos might just be the player who brings the stability, dynamism, and quality they lost when Rice left.

In short, he is exactly the kind of midfielder they should be doing everything possible to sign.