West Ham United face heavy competition for £25million David Raum
West Ham are reportedly in the race to sign Hoffenheim left-back David Raum, according to Bild, but face strong competition for his signature.
The German publication reports that Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund are also in the running, although the Bundesliga side is at a financial disadvantage against Premier League money.
According to Sky Germany they cannot currently afford the €30million [£25million] it will take to land the 24-year-old.
However, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reports on Twitter that interest from the Premier League is extensive with between five and eight clubs chasing the German international.
Manchester United have been picked out as the main name, although they are currently thought to be behind the Hammers and the Magpies in the race.
This is a familiar position for Irons fans who have seen the club linked to numerous high profile players over the last six months, and one by one they have either moved elsewhere or a larger side has taken over the hunt.
David Moyes was full of praise for the board when they backed him to make club-record bids in January for Leeds pair Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips, and Benfica’s Darwin Nunez.
The Uruguayan striker eventually moved to Liverpool this summer, while Barcelona and Manchester City appear to be primed to pick up the Elland Road men respectively.
Add to that Yves Bissmouma’s recent move to Tottenham and the fact that Porto midfielder Vitinha looks to be on his way to Paris Saint-Germain and there appears to be a pattern.
TEAMtalk currently claim that the Hammers are in the “box seat” for Raum so it would appear that now is the time to act if they are serious about him.
Otherwise he could become just the latest player to get fans’ hopes up and then go elsewhere.
An upgrade on Aaron Cresswell was reported by The Sun on 5 May to be one of Moyes’ priorities, the same day that the 32-year-old’s latest red card derailed the Europa League run.
Raum, who has nine Germany caps, would appear to fit the bill as he topped the Bundesliga for sprints in 2021/22 with 1061 and is active at getting back [Sky Germany].
He is also a threat going forward as he was second only to Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller for playing one of the final two passes before an open play shot on goal.
He isn’t cheap, although starting calibre players rarely are, but he isn’t extortionately priced, and there appears to be a window of opportunity to win this race after falling behind in so many others.
In other West Ham news, one key transfer target has written an emotional message to fans online as he departs his former club.
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