Cheikou Kouyate- £7m from Anderlecht
It took a while for West Ham to secure the services of the Senegal international due to the interest from La Liga in the form of Valencia. They were prepared to pay big money which I thought would ultimately rule us out of making a move for the big midfielder. However, we matched the offer put forward by them and it was Kouyate’s ambition to play in the Premier League that helped him become a West ham player.
Many West Ham fans would not have heard of the Senegalese man before we were interested in signing him. What was encouraging was his versatility, he could play in centre midfield as well as centre back. Kouyate also had a number of Champions League appearances under his belt due to Anderlecht’s involvement in the competition.
Eventually, West Ham secured Kouyate’s services for £7 million and it looks like a bargain already. In his short time at West Ham, the fans have witnessed his remarkable fitness levels that he showcased in every game so far. He is also very economical with the ball, rarely losing it in midfield and being very strong in the tackle.
It wouldn’t surprise me if we were fending off interest from the top four clubs in the near future, he looks that good.
