He’s an ABSOLUTE GEM Worth MILLIONS – Manager Admits He FULLY EXPECTED West Ham to Snap Up This Hidden Midfield Monster… But Marseille Stole Him Instead!
In an unexpected turn of events, three midfielders previously linked with West Ham during the January window could now unite to form a revamped trio in Marseille’s engine room.
West Ham held discussions over a move for former Feyenoord captain Quinten Timber, but the Dutch midfielder instead joined Marseille for just £4.5 million after entering the final stretch of his contract in Rotterdam.
Arsenal also turned down a loan bid from West Ham for teenage prospect Ethan Nwaneri, who has since made an instant impact in France by scoring on his Marseille debut during a 3-1 win over title hopefuls RC Lens.
Although the Hammers eventually signed Axel Disasi on deadline day, Marseille beat them to another target, Nigerian midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi.
The 22-year-old arrived from Belgian side Zulte Waregem in a move that reportedly surprised Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle.
Back in December, sporting director Mark Noble was said to be keen on bringing Nnadi to the London Stadium after extensive scouting, but no formal offer materialised.
The reason remains unclear. It may be that Nuno Espirito Santo prioritised strengthening other areas, particularly in attack and defence.
With Tomas Soucek, Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa competing to partner Mateus Fernandes, midfield is not viewed as an urgent weakness.
Chelle admitted he expected Nnadi to secure a move to the Premier League, praising his pace, power and ball-winning aggression.
He described the youngster as a “gem” who thrives on regaining possession and playing simple, disciplined football.
Nnadi, who models himself on N’Golo Kante and Moises Caicedo, leaves Belgium with a reputation for tenacity, averaging a booking every three games.
Meanwhile, West Ham are reportedly monitoring Flamengo’s Evertton Araujo as a potential summer target.
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder is valued by the London club at around £10.5 million, though Flamengo are believed to be demanding significantly more for the highly rated prospect.
