Why Rav van den Berg is in tussle over exit as West Ham United ready January transfer assault

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Published on:

28 Sep 2026, 11:10 am

Rav van den Berg could be heading back to England with West Ham United very shortly.

Nuno Espirito Santo is already putting plans in place for January, looking to capitalise on the positive start to the Championship season.

With the extended international break now here, clubs have an extra week to recover, prepare and plot for the future.

Van den Berg is clearly part of those plans, and West Ham are moving very quickly to get ahead of the curve, it seems.

Having left Middlesbrough for FC Koln in Germany back in August 2025, things haven't gone as planned for either.

Now, the door is opening to another move.

Why could Rav van den Berg transfer get tricky?

It's clear that both the defender and the Bundesliga club aren't happy with how this transfer has played out.

Express.De has now reported that West Ham are already plotting a January assault to sign the Dutch defender.

It's said that Van den Berg is fourth in the pecking order, and disillusionment is setting in on both sides in a possible tussle to leave.

Koln expected the defender to kick on and hand them serious profit in the transfer market, but that's not happened.

And now, Van den Berg is still dreaming of returning to England, something West Ham can offer again.

Interest is as "strong as ever" from the Hammers, with a price tag of around £12.8million mooted.

West Ham are said to be planning a concrete offer, so this is one to watch.

West Ham are increasingly likely to land Rav van den Berg in discount January deal

Do West Ham need another central defender?

In truth, yes.

After sorting out their lack of options out wide, up front and in midfield, defence was somewhat left lacking.

Konstantinos Mavropanos has been sensational again this season, while it's Max Kilman alongside him.

Morato was signed on loan from Nottingham Forest, but he's been used primarily at left-back so far.

Ask any West Ham fan, and they'd welcome another defender over Kilman, although he hasn't done much wrong yet.

Van den Berg knows England and the Championship, and with the Irons sitting second already, a January transfer push could give them what it needs for promotion.

This is certainly one to watch in the coming weeks.

West Ham United Football Club