da bet esporte： West Ham United are closing in on a deal to bring Formose Mendy to the Premier League in the January transfer window.
What’s the talk?
da wazamba： That’s according to a report by Senegalese publication WiwSport, who claim that, despite the interest of both Southampton and RC Lens, the Amiens SC centre-back is now prioritising a move to the London Stadium this winter.
The report goes on to suggest that David Moyes has already reached an agreement with the 22-year-old and his representatives regarding personal terms, while it is claimed that the Ligue 2 side are demanding a figure in the region of €8m (£7m) in order to sanction the sale of the Senegal international this month.
Rudiger 2.0
Considering just how exciting a prospect Mendy very much appears to be, it is not difficult to understand why Moyes would be interested in a deal to bring the centre-back to east London in the January transfer window.
Indeed, over his 17 Ligue 2 appearances so far this season, the £1.1m-rated talent has been a rock in the heart of the Amiens backline, helping his side keep four clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 3.1 tackles – the joint fifth-most in the league – 2.5 interceptions – the third-most in the division – 3.1 clearances and winning 7.8 duels – at a success rate of 68% – per game.
The £2.3k-per-week youngster also impresses in possession of the ball, enjoying an average of 69.8 touches, making 0.5 key passes and completing 41.5 total passes – at a success rate of 83% – per match, as well as playing an average of 5.5 long balls, 3.2 chipped passes and completing 0.5 dribbles – at a success rate of 62% – per outing.
These returns have seen the 22-year-old who football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed both “complete” and “dominant” average a rather remarkable Sofascore statistical rating of 7.46, ranking him as the second-best player in the second tier of French football as a whole so far in 2022/23.
As such, with Mendy looking to be a centre-back who is as strong at the back as he is in both his reading of the game and in possession of the ball, it is no wonder why Kulig went on to compare the Senegalese sensation to Real Madrid colossus Antonio Rudiger, as well as stating his belief that the Amiens starlet has a “big future ahead” of him in the professional game.
Indeed, should Moyes go on to get a deal over the line for the two-cap international this winter, the 59-year-old manager could well have landed West Ham the next Rudiger-esque centre-back – a prospect that is sure to excite everyone involved with the club.