In terms of really sensible gamers who’ve represented West Ham United during the last decade or so, the identical names will are inclined to pop up.
Jarrod Bowen is undoubtedly a membership legend for his Convention League-winning objective and loyalty, and whereas Dimitri Payet may need left on poor phrases, he was completely unbelievable for that 12 months and a bit.
Lastly, whereas he did depart to hitch one other London facet, it is also inconceivable to not embody Declan Rice on this dialog, as he developed from an academy gem right into a world-class midfielder on the London Stadium.
The Hammers have not been in a position to substitute the Englishman simply but, however Nuno Espírito Santo may need a participant who might get shut in his present squad.
West Ham’s potential Rice heirs
The youngest West Ham gem who might doubtlessly turn into a brand new Rice-type participant for Nuno within the coming years is academy gem Preston Fearon.
The 18-year-old has been making waves within the junior sides for a while now, and was even given his first style of senior soccer throughout pre-season, when he made a cameo within the sport towards Manchester United, after which Bowen described him as a “particular participant.”
Whereas he has performed in varied positions on the pitch throughout his time within the academy, the thrilling prospect is at his greatest when he performs in central or defensive midfield.
Fearon’s West Ham Document | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Place | Video games | Objectives | Assists |
Central Midfield | 14 | 0 | 5 |
Defensive Midfield | 9 | 0 | 2 |
Attacking Midfield | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Proper Winger | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Proper Midfield | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Centre-Again | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Stats through Transfermarkt | |||
His ultimate similarity to the previous Irons captain is his skill to chip in with a objective or help, as regardless that he spends a lot of his time in deeper positions, he has scored three objectives and offered seven assists in 39 appearances.
Transferring on to an older academy graduate now, and Freddie Potts might ultimately turn out to be the membership’s new Rice.
Like Fearon, the 22-year-old began his footballing profession with the East Londoners, becoming a member of them on the age of six and making his means by the junior sides earlier than making his debut in late 2021 after which going out on a few loans to Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth.
The Barking-born ace is one other participant who can play in central and defensive midfield, and likewise has some expertise at centre-back, however do not let that idiot you into pondering he lacks technical high quality.
For instance, revered analyst Ben Mattinson highlights his “ball-security, passing vary and highly effective carrying” as sturdy factors, noting that he’s “so clean on the half-turn and composed below stress.”
Nonetheless, whereas both Potts or Fearon might turn out to be West Ham’s future Rice, there may be one other promising midfielder who might lay declare to that title.
West Ham’s potential new Rice
Signed in the summertime from Ligue 1 facet AS Monaco for a price of round £17.3m, Nuno might assist rework Soungoutou Magassa into West Ham’s new Rice within the coming seasons.
The important thing motive for that is that, regardless of having a considerably blended begin to life in East London, the younger Frenchman appears to exhibit the abilities essential to observe within the Englishman’s footsteps: defensive nous and a capability to get the ball ahead with function.
Mattinson additionally believes the 22-year-old can fulfil each roles, highlighting his skill to “spray passes vast out to the wings” but in addition making it clear that “defensively there is a excessive potential” within the teenager.
Either side of the Stains-born gem’s sport may be seen in his underlying numbers.
For instance, in the case of the defensive facet of issues, FBref ranks him within the prime 2% of midfielders in Europe’s prime 5 leagues for dribblers tackled and blocks, the highest 3% for ball recoveries, and the highest 4% for tackles plus interceptions, all per 90.
Magassa’s Scout Report | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics | Per 90 | Percentile |
Dribbles Challenged | 3.59 | Prime 1% |
Dribblers Tackled | 1.80 | Prime 2% |
Blocks | 2.07 | Prime 2% |
Ball Recoveries | 6.98 | Prime 3% |
Passes Blocked | 1.52 | Prime 4% |
Tkl+Int | 4.84 | Prime 4% |
Tackles | 3.25 | Prime 6% |
Interceptions | 1.59 | Prime 7% |
Switches | 0.76 | Prime 8% |
Tackles (Def third) | 1.38 | Prime 8% |
Via Balls | 0.41 | Prime 11% |
Tackles (Att third) | 0.48 | Prime 11% |
Pictures Blocked | 0.55 | Prime 12% |
Tackles (Mid third) | 1.38 | Prime 14% |
Touches (Def third) | 17.28 | Prime 14% |
Touches (Def Pen) | 3.59 | Prime 15% |
Profitable Take-On % | 61.9% | Prime 15% |
Objectives/Shot | 0.13 | Prime 17% |
All Stats through FBref | ||
After which then again, he nonetheless ranks within the prime 8% for switches, the highest 11% for by balls and the highest 15% for profitable take-on proportion, additionally per 90.
This mix of a tenacious ball winner and top-notch passing vary may very well be game-changing for the Hamemers this season.
With Bowen on the correct and the duo of Crysencio Summerville and El Hadji Malick Diouf on the left, getting the ball out vast as quickly as potential may very well be essential for fast counter-attacks.
Finally, whereas it would take a while, West Ham’s new “effortlessly” sensible Magassa, as dubbed by Mattinson, might turn out to be Nuno’s personal Rice.
