£42 million signing Matheus Fernandes can be exactly what West Ham need to solve their problems in midfield long-term.

When we heard Matheus Fernandes was West Ham’s top midfield target, many fans thought, why do we need another attacking midfielder, is Paqueta leaving? But while he can play in attacking midfield, he is a whole lot more than an attacking midfielder.

Despite playing on the left side of midfield against Nottingham Forest, we saw qualities in him that would make him shine in the centre of the park, which he showed at Southampton last season too. He made three tackles which was a team high, won three fouls which was a match high, made seven ball recoveries and created two chances.

It’s understandable why Potter played him on the left in his first game, throwing him straight into a midfield alongside Paqueta and Soucek may not have worked against Forest’s powerful and talented midfield. However, long-term,  he should play in a midfield three alongside Lucas Paqueta and fellow new signing Soungoutou Magassa and I believe that is Graham Potter’s plan too.

We saw how well Paqueta and Fernandes linked up at times against Forest and with even more time on the pitch that will relationship will develop. It’s good to finally have another midfielder on the same wavelength as our Brazilian magnifico. With two excellent ball players, West Ham will have multiple players to worry about in midfield, which can only help us create more chances.

Not only can they help us going forward, we know Lucas Paqueta likes to get stuck in defensively and Fernandes exactly the same, in fact he is more effective defensively. Both of their tackling numbers are impressive and ranked highly among midfielders last season. Those two with the added defensive qualities of France-U21 International Magassa could make a brilliant midfield trio which could be the main ingredient in the recipe to fix Graham Potter’s West Ham.