Whisper it quietly, but it has been a very effective transfer window for Manuel Pellegrini and West Ham United so far.
There have been some fantastic signings in Yarmelenko, Wilshere, Balbuena, Fabianski and Diop.
West Ham are still being linked to other high-quality targets in Moussa Marega and Yassine Brahimi. In fact, there is a whole raid happening on Liga Nos.
But the player they have been linked to this morning is not currently plying his trade in Portugal.
West Ham United are, according to the Daily Mail, about to make a move for a talented young French right-side centre-back currently playing his football for Le Harve in Ligue 2.
Harold Moukoudi
Harold Moukoudi is a 20-year-old French right-side centre-back of Congolese descent. As you can see from this profile taken from Wyscout Moukoudi plays most of his football on the right side of a two, or at times, of a three in defence.
Moukoudi is a French U20 international who recently impressed in the Toulon tournament.
Statistics from 2017/18
We have pulled Harold Moukoudi’s averages from Wyscout and this is what we have learned about him defensively, all on a per 90 minutes average.
Defensive duels won: 5.33 (30% success rate)
Aerial duels won: 3.75 (64% success rate)
Interceptions: 4.87
Clearances: 2.9
Right now, you probably have no clue whether this is good, bad or indifferent.
Let’s compare him to another young French defender West Ham have just signed – Issa Diop.
Defensive duels won: 4.89 (31% success rate)
Aerial duels won: 3.02 (57.6% success rate)
Interceptions: 5.19
Clearances: 3.4
As you can see, Harold Moukoudi compares very favourably to Issa Diop, although the caveat is he was playing a division below Diop in Ligue 2 with Le Havre.
That said, the potential is clearly there.
Conclusion
With the price being quoted at £10m in this morning’s reports this does feel like another good deal for West Ham. Granted, Harold Moukoudi will not walk straight into the first team but he will add another level of depth to the West Ham squad. If it was my call, I would be signing him.
