Why West Ham have got the news they wanted amid Rav van den Berg talks update

Rav van den Berg may get the green light to depart FC Koln in January amid interest from West Ham United.

The 22-year-old defender was strongly linked with a move to the London Stadium in the summer window.

However, West Ham were put off by Koln's £17million asking price for Van den Berg.

But the Netherlands Under-21s international's complete lack of action this season has changed the picture.

Van den Berg has yet to feature this season in any competition, with his most recent outing coming seven months ago.

And with the Dutchman not even included as part of matchday squads anymore, Koln chief Thomas Kessler accepts something may have to change.

What has Koln chief said about West Ham-linked Rav van den Berg?

West Ham know they cannot justify splashing out £17m on a defender in January.

Even if they could, should a player like Konstantinos Mavropanos be sold, it is hard to work out where that valuation has come from.

Van den Berg impressed for Middlesbrough in the Championship and earned an £11.2m move to Koln in August 2025.

But his limited appearances has hardly added more value to his price tag. If anything, it has surely only decreased.

Wednesday's print edition of BILD, as relayed by Sport Witness, states that a loan exit or permanent deal will now be considered in January.

That comes on the back of comments from Koln sporting director Kessler on the out-of-favour defender.

"We are in regular contact with Rav and his representatives, and we are, of course, aware that his current situation is not satisfactory for him," he said.

"We made a deliberate decision to sign him last summer because we are convinced of his potential and his sporting qualities. That hasn't changed.

"Naturally, the expectation behind this transfer was that he would play an important role for us and continue to develop as a player."

"If there is no fundamental change in his sporting situation by the winter, we will naturally sit down with him and his agency to have an open discussion about what path forward makes the most sense for all parties involved."

Kessler has therefore confirmed Koln's stance on Van den Berg will shift come the winter window if his situation does not improve.

What could Van den Berg bring to West Ham?

What makes Van den Berg such an attractive prospect is that he has already showed he can cut it in the Championship.

He won the Players' Player and Fans' Player of the Year awards for Middlesbrough in the 2023-24 campaign.

That was his debut season in England and he was aged just 20.

Sure, he has not pushed on as hoped since then, but there is a reason he was linked with heavyweights such as Borussia Dortmund and Roma.

Van den Berg is a classy centre-back and he can also play wide in a back three, as well as at right-back.

The jury is still out on West Ham's defence, even more so with Mavropanos being linked with a London Stadium exit.

If a new defender is indeed recruited in January, Van den Berg is surely that man.

And with his valuation now dropping, it could be the perfect time to pounce.