Soungoutou Magassa’s next opportunity at West Ham could come one line further back.
Nuno Espírito Santo should consider testing the Frenchman at centre-back during training before making longer-term decisions about his role. His Monaco career provides a reason to investigate the option, although experience in another league does not guarantee it would work here.
With Tomáš Souček working towards a competitive return and several players competing for midfield places, West Ham have reason to examine everything Magassa can offer.
The question is whether his background could help Nuno rotate his defence without losing a player comfortable receiving the ball in deeper areas.
Magassa has already played the position at Monaco
According to West Ham’s official player profile, Magassa established himself in Monaco’s senior squad during 2023/24 while playing predominantly as a left centre-back.
He started their first eight Ligue 1 matches and made 21 league appearances across a campaign that ended with Monaco finishing second.
The following season brought a move into defensive midfield, with 31 appearances in all competitions, including seven in the Champions League.
That sequence matters. Centre-back was a meaningful part of his development before midfield became his main responsibility.
It gives West Ham a basis for a trial. Magassa would still need to learn the positioning, communication and partnerships required within Nuno’s defensive structure.
His midfield experience might help when opponents press West Ham’s first pass. A defender who can receive, turn away from pressure and find a midfielder can help the team advance without immediately playing long.
That is the potential benefit to assess. His previous position alone cannot tell us how reliably he would deliver it.
Where a centre-back switch could help West Ham
Our summer transfer assessment highlighted Morato’s arrival as additional defensive depth. Magassa would have to compete with established options for any opportunity.
The most useful starting point would be structured training alongside a regular centre-back, with clear instructions about when to step forward and when to hold the line.
There is an attacking reason to explore it.
Against a team sitting deep, a centre-back carrying the ball forward can force an opponent to leave their position. That movement may open a passing lane into midfield or create space for a teammate elsewhere.
However, someone must protect the space behind that advance. If both the defender and the nearest midfielder move forward together, a promising attack can quickly become a dangerous counter.
West Ham would therefore need to assess the partnership around Magassa as carefully as his individual work.
A successful trial could give Nuno another defensive option while preserving his ability to use Magassa in midfield when required.
Why Nuno should test the idea before trusting it
The risks are substantial enough to rule out treating this as an instant solution.
Defending the penalty area requires repeated decisions about crosses, runners and the position of the striker. Midfield ball-winning cannot replace those responsibilities.
Playing on the left of a back three also differs from defending in a central pair. Any assessment must reflect the system West Ham intend to use.
Nor should the experiment distract from immediate selection needs. With Mohamadou Kanté suspended for QPR, Magassa remains relevant to the midfield options for that fixture.
The sensible approach is gradual: assess his defensive positioning in training, examine how the unit responds under pressure and consider match involvement only when the evidence supports it.
Magassa does not need a guaranteed new position. He needs a clearly defined way to contribute.
Before January, West Ham have time to establish whether his Monaco experience can provide one. That is an option worth testing before deciding his value to the squad.
