Next week, West Ham is expected to present an official transfer proposal for Jayden Oosterwolde to Fenerbahce, as per Sabah.
On June 18, the Turkish publication stated on their website that the Hammers have been keeping an eye on the Dutchman for some time and are now prepared to make a formal bid to sign him.
West Ham are said to want to land the 23-year-old “very much”, although Fener are expected to be unwilling to negotiate for anything less than €20million [£16.9m].
The Turkish club’s president Ali Koç has said, translated to English: “We do not plan to sell unless there is an extraordinary offer.”
Earlier the same day it had been reported that the Irons had approached Oosterwolde’s agent as they continued to assess him [Yağız Sabuncuoğlu], and it appears they have made the decision to go ahead.
West Ham push to land Julen Lopetegui new left-back
The Irons defence is set to look very different when the Julen Lopetegui era kicks off next season to how it ended up David Moyes.
If the club can complete a deal for Oosterwolde he could join multiple new centre-backs at the London Stadium, and if the last-gasp attempt to prevent Ben Johnson leaving doesn’t prove to be successful then a new right-back will likely be on the cards as well.
Having conceded more Premier League goals than every club except the three relegated sides it is little surprise that Tim Steidten is looking to revamp the backline, with Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd both potential sales during this window [The Times, 28 May].
A new contract for Aaron Cresswell and potentially Johnson are perhaps more surprising moves, although Angelo Ogbonna has been allowed to leave as his own deal expires.
Oosterwolde was a regular in the Turkish Super Lig last season and would push current starter Emerson Palmeiri for games, although the Italian international has been subject of an approach from AC Milan [Gianluca Di Marzio, 18 June] so the Hammers transfer push may be to find a replacement first choice.
It has been heavy going so far despite extensive links to a number of targets early in the summer, with just Luis Guilherme’s £25m move completed so far, but it looks like Steidten is ready to push for another deal within days.
