West Ham finally shopping smart in exciting update for ‘ultimate bargain’ Ozan Kabak
West Ham are among a selection of clubs interested in TSG Hoffenheim defender Ozan Kabak.
The Turkish defender has made 14 appearances for the club this term, as Christian Ilzer’s surprise package occupy third place in the Bundesliga.
German outlet Fussballdaten report that multiple clubs across Europe are interested in securing Kabak’s signature following the expiration of his contract over the summer, describing Kabak as the “ultimate bargain”.
This includes West Ham and Everton in the Premier League, alongside Serie A giants Roma and AC Milan.
The report outlines that the Hoffenheim perspective is to keep the 25-year-old at the club, though Kabak desires a move away, with Die Kraichgauer already assessing potential successors.
Forgotten Liverpool man has proved himself back in Germany
Making a name for himself in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim’s neighbours Stuttgart, Kabak would make the switch to Schalke following Stuttgart’s relegation to the 2. Bundesliga in 2019.
He would make a shock loan move to Liverpool in 2021, with the club suffering with a defensive injury crisis throughout the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season.
Though it would not be until his return to Germany, this time with Hoffenheim, where he began to really progress at the heart of defence.
Kabak has made 78 appearances for the Sinhseim club, scoring 12 times and registering five assists from centre-back.
Ilzer’s side are flying at the top end of the Bundesliga, after narrowly avoiding relegation last term, and Kabak, alongside others are beginning to develop into seasoned top-flight professionals as they hit the respective prime of their careers.
With his deal at the PreZero Arena up in the summer, it would make complete sense for West Ham to be in for his signature – but their league form will have to improve first.
Why coming weeks will dictate West Ham’s recruitment plan
It goes without saying that the current campaign has been an incredibly poor one at the London Stadium.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side find themselves locked in a relegation battle, and have failed to claw back ground on Nottingham Forest above them in recent weeks, despite impressing since the turn of the year.
With 11 matches to go, the coming months will all but determine the direction of West Ham’s summer recruitment.
Looking to make the step up from Hoffenheim, a small village club flying high in Germany, the Turkish defender would be unlikely to make a Championship switch – especially given the list of interested clubs.
If the Hammers are to secure their top-flight status, they can begin building again. And the indications from the interest in Kabak point in the direction of a much smarter plan.
Money has been spent and wasted by the club, and a shift in direction to what would be a common-sense free transfer would be a welcome change for supporters.
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