{"id":178183,"date":"2025-06-12T10:45:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T10:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/178183\/"},"modified":"2025-06-12T10:45:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T10:45:11","slug":"west-ham-could-have-had-six-napoli-stars-as-21m-man-joins-kevin-de-bruyne-and-scott-mctominay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/178183\/","title":{"rendered":"West Ham could have had six Napoli stars as \u00a321m man joins Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

West Ham saw a \u00a330 million bid rejected by Manchester United<\/a> for Scott McTominay<\/a> during the summer of 2023.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

\n

Moment Scott McTominay walks onto the pitch with BLUE HAIR after firing Napoli to only their fourth Scudetto \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udca5pic.twitter.com\/LIOQf6V8rK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) May 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"ScottPhoto by Elianton\/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty ImagesScott McTominay is one Napoli star West Ham United could have had<\/p>\n

Hammers News <\/strong>exclusively reported at the end of May, in conjunction with football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Jonathan David had rebuffed West Ham\u2019s advances<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Arguably the most underrated centre-forward in European football, Canada international David leaves LOSC Lille<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

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

\n

\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udd35 Napoli have submitted a proposal to Jonathan David with advanced talks ongoing for a free transfer.<\/p>\n

Important contract proposal has been sent to the striker who\u2019s set to leave Lille at the end of the season.<\/p>\n

There are still key details to clarify with more talks to follow. pic.twitter.com\/3eBWfSOJQC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Former Arsenal youngster Musah was another West Ham target<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cNapoli are very close to Musah,\u201d the ever-reliable Gianluca di Marzio<\/a> explains. \u201cIt is a total deal of 25 million euros [\u00a321 million]. It was a lightning deal, concluded in just a few hours. <\/p>\n

\u201cTogether with Kevin De Bruyne, Conte will therefore also have Musah at his disposal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ambition was not in short supply, at least, when West Ham sensationally approached Kevin de Bruyne<\/a> to gauge the Manchester City legend\u2019s interest in a remarkable switch to East London. De Bruyne is, however, about to swap one baby blue shirt for another.<\/p>\n

Napoli close in on Kevin de Bruyne, Yunus Musah and Georgiy Sudakov<\/p>\n

Another defence-splitting specialist with admirers at West Ham \u2013 Shakhtar Donetsk talisman Georgiy Sudakov \u2013 could also be on his way to the Partenopei to hone his already-considerable talents under the living legend that is De Bruyne.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I heard about Napoli\u2019s interest and, to be honest, I was pleased,\u201d Sudakov told Tuttomecatoweb<\/a> while Matteo Moretto reports that Napoli have submitted a bid rising to \u00a340 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a club like that pays attention to you, it\u2019s a great recognition of your work and your progress. It means I\u2019m going in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

While De Bruyne and Musah pack their bags and head to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona \u2013 potentially to be joined by Jonathan David and Georgiy Sudakov \u2013 one of McTominay\u2019s Scudetto-winning teammates is sticking around to give those new arrivals a warm welcome.<\/p>\n

West Ham were linked with Mathias Olivera<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cMathi is happy in Napoli today,\u201d Pablo Boselli, Olivera\u2019s agent, told Sport Italia<\/a> while shutting down those Hammers rumours before they even had time to percolate. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe felt that very good things could come to Napoli, that\u2019s why he didn\u2019t want to leave. He\u2019s still too young to take another step.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clearly, West Ham\u2019s recruitment department can spot talent when they see it. <\/p>\n

But as Josh Brownhill closes in on a move to the London Stadium<\/a> \u2013 underwhelming maybe but affordable certainly, his Burnley contract expiring \u2013 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n