West Ham are ready to rival Chelsea and Newcastle United in the race to sign LOSC Lille defender Sven Botman in January.
According to a recent report from 90 Min, West Ham have made an enquiry, exploring the possibility of a potential move for Sven Botman. It appears the LOSC Lille centre-back has emerged as an ideal option for David Moyes as he looks to shore up his defensive options in the upcoming January transfer window.
West Ham’s desire to sign a new defender stems from their current injury crisis. Defensive stalwart Angelo Ogbonna had picked up an ACL problem early on in the campaign, which was followed by an injury to summer signing Kurt Zouma, leaving Moyes devoid of reliable options at the heart of the defence.
As a result, the Hammers are now in the market for defensive reinforcements in January. While they have been linked with a swoop for Liverpool outcast Nathaniel Phillips, the club will be keen on a more proven alternative, preferably with a much higher ceiling.
Botman, in that regard, fits the bill well, having emerged as one of Europe’s most talented centre-back since joining Lille in 2020. During his first season in Ligue 1, the youngster built a formidable partnership with Jose Fonte, helping the club secure the title, ahead of AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.
However, the Dutchman could be a difficult target for a club like West Ham. The Londoners are already facing stiff competition from Newcastle United in the pursuit of the Lille starlet. The Magpies, who boast one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League this term, are keen on bolstering their options at the back as they make a push for survival.
In addition to West Ham and Newcastle United, Chelsea have recently identified Botman as a potential alternative for top target Jules Kounde as well.
Perhaps more importantly, the player himself is having second thoughts over a potential move away from Lille next month. It appears the centre-back is prioritising his involvement in the Netherlands team for next year’s FIFA World Cup. As such, he might want to stay put in France for at least another year before taking the next step in his career.
Fortunately for West Ham, they have no shortage of alternatives. As mentioned earlier, the Hammers have been in the market for Phillips, but he is certainly not the only one. In recent weeks, Moyes has been monitoring the progress of Arsenal loanee Konstantinos Mavropanos, who has been making a lot of waves in the Bundesliga lately, so it will be interesting to see which defender ends up in London Stadium next month.
