Tim Steidten ready to launch West Ham United bid to sign Steven Bergwijn as £85,000-a-week news emerges from Ajax
West Ham technical director Tim Steidten is ready to raid Ajax again with the signing of Steven Bergwijn, according to the Daily Mirror.
Mirror writer Ryan Taylor reported on the paper’s official website (6 January) that the former Tottenham winger is “unpopular” at the Eredivisie giants despite being the club’s highest earner on £85,000 per week.
He added that the Hammers opened talks with the Netherlands international’s agency Muy Manero in November and are now ready to press ahead with plans to bring the 26-year-old to the London Stadium.
Steidten previously dealt with Ajax twice in the summer with both Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez being brought to the London Stadium.
Point to prove
Bergwijn has previous experience of playing in the Premier League, of course, having spent time at the Hammers’ fierce rivals Tottenham but it is fair to say he was not exactly a success in north London.
He made 83 appearances in total and scored only eight goals after joining from PSV in January 2020 and he eventually returned to the Eredivisie with Ajax where he has been one of the more consistent performers in a desperately poor season by their standards.
The 26-year-old has seven goals in 13 top-flight appearances this term but the Mirror states that he is frustrated and has an increasingly poor relationship with fans and figures within the club.
It might not have quite happened for him at Tottenham but he was often used as a squad option and he will feel that he still has a point to prove that he can be a success in the Premier League. Moreover, Steidten has proven useful with his transfer business thus far and should be trusted in the market.
In other West Ham news, Jack Clarke is also reportedly on the Hammers’ radar this January.