In a parallel universe somewhere out there in the unknown, West Ham United may be approaching the 2025/26 Premier League season with Scott McTominay, Mathias Olivera, Jonathan David, Georgiy Sudakov and Yunus Musah champing at the claret and blue bit.

West Ham saw a £30 million bid rejected by Manchester United for Scott McTominay during the summer of 2023.

Two years on, in a development that would have blindsided even Derren Brown himself, McTominay scored the goal which set Napoli on their way to only a second Scudetto triumph since the glory days of Diego Maradona.

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As for Jonathan David, Georgiy Sudakov and Yunus Musah, the newly-crowned champions of Italian football may be about to follow up the signing of their bottle-blue Braveheart with three more players who, in an alternate dimension, may instead have ended up wearing the colours of West Ham United.

Scott McTominay celebrates - Football, Italian Serie A: SSC Napoli won the italian championshipPhoto by Elianton/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty ImagesScott McTominay is one Napoli star West Ham United could have had

Hammers News exclusively reported at the end of May, in conjunction with football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Jonathan David had rebuffed West Ham’s advances.

Arguably the most underrated centre-forward in European football, Canada international David leaves LOSC Lille as a free agent after breaking the 25-goal barrier for a third season in succession. West Ham reached out to his camp but a man who scored Champions League strikes against Real Madrid, Juventus and Atletico last term has far loftier ambitions.

Advanced discussions have since taken place between David and Napoli, though it remains to be seen if a final agreement can be reached.

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The team who snatched the Serie A title from under the noses of Inter Milan on the final day of the campaign should, at least, find completing a deal for AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah a lot more straightforward.

Former Arsenal youngster Musah was another West Ham target. But, despite an alleged eleventh hour hijack attempt from the London Stadium, Antonio Conte is set to strengthen an already imposing midfield with one of the most versatile, athletic enforcers in Italian football.

“Napoli are very close to Musah,” the ever-reliable Gianluca di Marzio explains. “It is a total deal of 25 million euros [£21 million]. It was a lightning deal, concluded in just a few hours.

“Together with Kevin De Bruyne, Conte will therefore also have Musah at his disposal.”

With a club source telling Hammers News that West Ham plan to sell before they buy this summer, Graham Potter can only dream of his employers approaching the market with the same ambition and speed.

Ambition was not in short supply, at least, when West Ham sensationally approached Kevin de Bruyne to gauge the Manchester City legend’s interest in a remarkable switch to East London. De Bruyne is, however, about to swap one baby blue shirt for another.

Napoli close in on Kevin de Bruyne, Yunus Musah and Georgiy Sudakov

Another defence-splitting specialist with admirers at West Ham – Shakhtar Donetsk talisman Georgiy Sudakov – could also be on his way to the Partenopei to hone his already-considerable talents under the living legend that is De Bruyne.

“Yes, I heard about Napoli’s interest and, to be honest, I was pleased,” Sudakov told Tuttomecatoweb while Matteo Moretto reports that Napoli have submitted a bid rising to £40 million.

“When a club like that pays attention to you, it’s a great recognition of your work and your progress. It means I’m going in the right direction.”

While De Bruyne and Musah pack their bags and head to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona – potentially to be joined by Jonathan David and Georgiy Sudakov – one of McTominay’s Scudetto-winning teammates is sticking around to give those new arrivals a warm welcome.

West Ham were linked with Mathias Olivera three weeks ago. Those initial reports are yet to develop into anything more substantial, however, with the Uruguayan left-back happy to stay and fight for his place under Conte.

“Mathi is happy in Napoli today,” Pablo Boselli, Olivera’s agent, told Sport Italia while shutting down those Hammers rumours before they even had time to percolate.

“He felt that very good things could come to Napoli, that’s why he didn’t want to leave. He’s still too young to take another step.”

Clearly, West Ham’s recruitment department can spot talent when they see it.

But as Josh Brownhill closes in on a move to the London Stadium – underwhelming maybe but affordable certainly, his Burnley contract expiring – Graham Potter continues to limp along with his feet tied together while Napoli construct a Serie A-winning squad built upon a foundation of West Ham targets past and present.