One of the less heralded West Ham signings over a busy summer transfer window was Mohamadou Kanté from Paris FC.
The youngster, who turned 19 last week, was the lesser of two Kantés the Hammers were linked with during the summer and was very much seen as one for the future. After receiving the sort of official welcome and photoshoot that Andy Irving could only dream about, Kanté was dispatched back to Paris on a year’s loan to continue his football education.
For those who don’t keep a keen eye on French football, Paris FC compete in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. Therefore, it was not unreasonable to send him back to his homeland, sit back, and watch his progress.
Unfortunately, Kanté isn’t being selected for the PFC first team and is currently making Luis Guilherme look positively busy.
Granted, undefeated Paris are currently top of Ligue 2, and Kanté did make the bench at the weekend. However, with zero game time apart from an under-19 run-out, one does begin to wonder if he’d be better off at West Ham’s academy.
The Hammers’ under-21s have found midfielders hard to come by this season, with Freddie Potts on loan at Pompey. This has forced Ollie Scarles to be deployed in central midfield, where he has performed incredibly well.
Nonetheless, with domestic, European, and two cup competitions, the under-21s could use the extra manpower. If January arrives and Kanté still isn’t playing, perhaps it would be wise to recall him.