West Ham United are actively pursuing numerous targets in the summer transfer window, drawing both excitement and skepticism from their fans. Some supporters feel the club’s approach appears scattergun as they embark on a significant rebuild.
The latest surprising development came with a report from The Guardian, which claimed that West Ham had made a move for N’Golo Kante, the former Chelsea and Leicester City star now playing for Saudi side Al-Ittihad.
Kante, who started for France in the Euros and is considered one of the top defensive midfielders of his generation, is now 33 and will turn 34 next season. His age and high wages in Saudi Arabia have raised eyebrows among West Ham fans, even though Kante is reportedly happy but open to a return to London.
The move also seems at odds with the recruitment strategy articulated by West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten and manager Julen Lopetegui, who have expressed a preference for targeting young, up-and-coming talents to rejuvenate a squad that was the second oldest in the Premier League last season. This contradiction led to some surprise and criticism among the fan base.
Following the news of West Ham’s interest in Kante, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook accused the club of displaying faux ambition. He suggested that West Ham were aware they couldn’t realistically sign Kante and made the inquiry merely to appear ambitious. Crook asserted that this was an old tactic by West Ham to excite the fans, although it has backfired for some who feel this is reminiscent of the club’s past signings of big-name players past their prime on substantial wages.
The situation has also brought attention to Steidten, with many feeling that the technical director should be seeking to discover the next Kante rather than pursuing the original.
Respected football journalist David Ornstein later confirmed the £15 million offer from West Ham, stating that Al-Ittihad rejected the bid and have no intention of selling Kante unless a proposal exceeds £25 million. Both the club and the Saudi Pro League hierarchy highly value Kante and see him as crucial for their short- and long-term plans. Despite the rejection, Ornstein confirmed that West Ham still have a strong interest in Kante.
West Ham have denied claims that the bid was a publicity stunt. Sean Whetstone reported that negotiations between West Ham and Al-Ittihad have been ongoing for weeks, with both sides showing a willingness to reach a deal for the 33-year-old midfielder. A source close to the club described the deal as a “long shot,” with Steidten and Lopetegui both showing interest in Kante.
Understanding why West Ham want Kante involves recognizing their need for a short-term solution. The club has two promising young central midfielders, Freddie Potts and Lewis Orford, coming through the ranks. Despite his age, Kante remains in excellent physical condition and maintains high fitness levels. His performance at the Euros, where he played all six of France’s games and achieved an average match rating of over 7/10, along with his 30 appearances in the Saudi Pro League last season, indicate that he still has much to offer on the pitch.
With Edson Alvarez likely to miss the start of the season, signing Kante would provide top-quality cover and potentially create a formidable midfield partnership moving forward. However, this raises questions about the future roles of Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse in the squad.
In summary, while West Ham’s interest in Kante seems genuine and part of a broader strategy to balance experienced and young talent, it has sparked mixed reactions among fans and pundits. The club’s management remains committed to exploring all options to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season.
