West Ham United are reportedly keen on signing 21-year-old Belgian international Mandela Keita and have established contact over a move.
According to a report by Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad, Mandela Keita is the subject of interest from West Ham United. The Hammers are in the market for a midfielder despite bolstering the department in the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old midfielder has thus emerged as a target for the East London club.
Who is Mandela Keita?
Mandela Keita is a native of Leuven and has been eligible to represent Belgium and Guinea on the international stage. He has chosen the Red Devils, even making his debut for the Belgian national side last year. Meanwhile, the youngster is a graduate of the Oud-Heverlee Leuven youth division and also represented KRC Genk during his youth career.
But Keita’s stock has risen during his loan stints with Royal Antwerp. The Great Old first signed him in January 2023 for the second half of the 2022/23 season. The 21-year-old then returned to the club in the summer and has been a regular in the middle of the park, turning out 21 times while chipping in with one assist.
The Belgian international’s progress at Royal Antwerp has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several English clubs. The report mentions Norwich City, Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers, and Nottingham Forest. But Mandela Keita is also a target for West Ham United.
West Ham United Want Mandela Keita
West Ham’s interest in Keita is understandable, even though they heavily bolstered the midfield unit in the summer transfer window. Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse have transformed the West Ham midfield this season. But Tomas Soucek’s long-term West Ham future is uncertain.
So, it behoves West Ham to invest in a midfielder in one of the two transfer windows this year. And widespread reports claim they are closing in on signing Kalvin Phillips. But Mandela Keita is also a viable target for West Ham. And the Hammers have scouted the 21-year-old Belgian international this season while asking for information from his entourage.
It will be interesting to see if West Ham’s interest in Keita remains even if Kalvin Phillips joins them. For now, the young midfielder has emerged as a viable target for the East London club.
