West Ham Face €20m Transfer Blow After Milan U-Turn: Big Setback For The Hammers?

West Ham Face €20m Transfer Blow After Milan U-Turn: Big Setback For The Hammers? West Ham have seen a summer pursuit collapse after AC Milan changed their view of a 23-year-old midfielder. Sport Witness , in a report by Kaustubh Pandey on September 23, says the Hammers pushed for “more than just information” during their efforts to explore a deal for Yunus Musah. Milan had reasons to consider a sale. Musah spent last season on loan at Atalanta after losing his place during a difficult spell at San Siro. He made 19 Serie A appearances for Atalanta, scoring once, before returning to Milan in July. Earlier reports suggested the Italian club wanted a permanent exit. That picture changed during pre-season. Rúben Amorim gave Musah a fresh chance and quickly found a role for his pace, strength and ability to cover several positions. Sport Witness says he has already played more than 400 minutes this season, while current records put his total at about 420 minutes across six appearances in all competitions. Musah has played in all five Serie A matches, starting three, before adding 90 minutes against Benfica in the Europa League. Milan sit fifth after five league matches, with three wins and two draws. West Ham , meanwhile, compete in the Championship under Nuno Espírito Santo, where their promotion push has produced 22 goals from eight league games. Why West Ham missed out on Yunus Musah PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Yunus Musah of AC Milan in action during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images) For me, missing Musah would hurt West Ham because the squad needs another midfielder who can carry the ball through pressure and turn defence into attack quickly. The Hammers have scored 22 goals in eight Championship matches, yet their results show Nuno needs balance between attacking intent and midfield control. That is where Musah would have offered something different. His acceleration gives him a route through crowded central areas, while his comfort in wider positions could have helped Nuno adjust his shape during matches. He can play as a central midfielder, operate from the flank and cover at right-back, so his value would go beyond one fixed position. His Milan role makes the missed opportunity more frustrating. He has played alongside Luka Modrić and has earned regular minutes under Amorim, who has shown greater tactical flexibility at Milan this season. Musah’s 2026/27 numbers remain modest in front of goal, with no goals or assists, but that doesn’t tell the full story of his contribution. The bigger issue concerns the level of football available to him. Milan currently sit fifth in Serie A and have European football, while West Ham are fighting for promotion from the Championship. A player who has regained his place at a Serie A club has little reason to trade that situation for the Championship. So, even if West Ham had pushed to open talks, Milan’s change of stance has closed the door. Sport Witness says Musah now looks “irreplaceable” to Amorim, while he appears unlikely to consider Championship football. The Hammers must now search for another midfielder who can offer similar versatility without asking a player in Musah’s position to leave European football.