“I feel…”: West Ham star drops hint over Hammers future amid links with Serie A giants Napoli
West Ham spent heavily during the summer rebuild, investing around £123 million to reshape the squad.
Big-money arrivals included Mateus Fernandes from Southampton for close to £40 million, as well El Hadji Malick Diouf, Mads Hermansen and Jean-Clair Todibo — who completed a permanent switch after his loan from Nice.
The Hammers also secured Soungoutou Magassa from AS Monaco, adding further depth to midfield.
But just a few months on, one of those new additions is already being linked with a swift exit, with rumours in Italy suggesting a January move could be on the cards.
Now, the player in question has broken his silence.
Magassa Drops Hint on West Ham Future
Soungoutou Magassa. (Reuters/Lee Smith)
Soungoutou Magassa, signed from AS Monaco in the summer, is reportedly attracting strong interest from Serie A champions Napoli — despite only a handful of appearances for the Hammers so far.
The 22-year-old has found minutes difficult to come by, starting just two Premier League games and spending most matches on the bench since Nuno Espírito Santo took charge.
That lack of game time has sparked speculation that he could be allowed to leave on loan in January.
Italian reports claim Napoli’s director Giovanni Manna is “tracking” Magassa closely, with the club short on midfield options due to injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa. A short-term deal has been mooted as they look to reinforce their squad.
However, Magassa has now spoken publicly about his situation — and his comments appear to pour cold water on immediate exit talk.
In an interview published on West Ham’s official channels, timed just as rumours about Napoli intensified, the French midfielder made his stance clear: “I’ve been welcomed by a very good team with a very good staff, and I’m very happy to be here at West Ham.”
He went on to praise the environment around him.
“Everyone has helped me on a daily basis,” he said. “London has been good for me, and I’m working hard to adapt, improve and show the fans what I’m capable of. I feel very good.
“It’s a family club that has welcomed me very well… I’m taking English classes regularly and feel more confident, and I feel as if it’s going very well.”
While game time will ultimately determine how settled he remains, his comments suggest he isn’t pushing for a move and feels optimistic about his long-term prospects in east London.
