Top Tim Steidten West Ham target confirms he will be moving for nothing. One of Tim Steidten’s top targets of the last year has spoken out about his future and it may give West Ham food for thought.
West Ham have made nine signings this summer.
But the Hammers are not done there with moves afoot for central defenders on a free transfer. The likes of John Egan and Joel Matip are being linked with West Ham.
Egan even played in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Dagenham and Redbridge this week. After being linked with German World Cup winner Mats Hummels, many West Ham fans are understandably underwhelmed at the prospect of signing Egan. Julen Lopetegui wants two quality senior players in every position.
Major development a game-changer for Hammers?
The departures of Angelo Ogbonna, Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma – along with Thilo Kehrer officially leaving in a permanent switch to Monaco – mean Lopetegui has just three senior central defenders currently.
Todibo is on loan at West Ham from Nice. But that will turn into an obligation at around £30m as soon as he makes five league starts. Hence the links to free agents – who can be signed before the Premier League’s final squad deadline on September 14th.
There has been talk West Ham may even bring in both Egan and Matip given Lopetegui will on occasion want to play three at the back.
But could a new announcement be a major game-changer for the Hammers?
Because a top Tim Steidten West Ham target has confirmed he will be moving for nothing. Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah has been linked with a move to West Ham ever since Steidten arrived last summer.
Steidten knows all about Tah having been Leverkusen’s sporting director during Tah’s tim at the club. West Ham were rumoured to want Tah again this summer but he looked set to join Bayern Munich instead.
In the end Tah remained with the team who knocked West Ham out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage back in April.
Tah was imperious in both games, sparking fresh links ahead of the summer window. That came and went with the 6ft 5in German remaining with Xabi Alonso’s side after a move to Bayern failed to transpire.
Tah has entered the last year of his contract. So he is at a crossroads of signing a new deal, being sold for a small fee in January or leaving as a free agent next summer.
Now 28-year-old Tah has spoken about his future.
And it may just make Steidten and Lopetegui reassess their plans
‘My decision is made’ says West Ham target Tah
Tah has now declared he won’t be signing a new contract with Leverkusen adn will definitely leave – at the latest as a free agent next summer.
“I’m not going to sign a new deal at Bayer Leverkusen. My decision is made,” Tah told Suddeutsche Zeitung.
“I will give my best until the end here and then we will see about my future club.
“But my decision is to go and try different experience.”
West Ham may still decide to sign Egan or Matip.
But surely it would make sense now for the Hammers to only hand either of them a one-year deal and line up a move for Tah on a free next summer.
That way Lopetegui would have three top class centre-backs in Tah, Todibo and Kilman with Konstantinos Mavropanos as fourth-choice back-up next season.
And without having to shell out a transfer fee.
Steidten will be well aware of the situation of course. This could certainly be one to watch for the Hammers.
