West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool interested in Ajax ace Charlie Setford
West Ham are one of four Premier League clubs showing an interest in young Ajax goalkeeper Charlie Setford, according to TEAMtalk.
Charlotte Cohen reported for the online publication on Wednesday (29 November) that Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are also keeping tabs.
Setford has yet to make his senior debut for Ajax, but he has regularly featured in matchday squads in Eredivisie and the Champions League.
The report adds that the teenager is under contract with the Dutch heavyweights until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
Promising talent
Setford may not have any experience at senior level, but he is clearly well thought of at Ajax if he is being regularly named on the subs’ bench.
The Haarlem-born ace has an English father and represents the Three Lions at Under-18 level, so he may well be tempted by a move to London.
However, West Ham would also have to agree a fee with Ajax, as well as seeing off competition from Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
The Hammers are in safe hands in terms of their current goalkeepers, with Lukasz Fabianski providing back-up to Alphonse Areola.
Fabianski will turn 39 before the season ends, however, and it is seems certain he will move on at the end of the campaign.
Areola is aged just 30 and has plenty of time to run on his contract, so Setford would likely have to remain patient if he does arrive.
Not an awful lot is known about Setford, but with some big names showing an interest, it may well make sense for United to make their move.
It may be that just a couple of years from now, Setford is manning the goal in Stratford on a regular basis for the Hammers.
In other West Ham news, a pundit has claimed that a United regular could further his career away from London Stadium.