West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing 21-year-old Belgian midfielder Mandela Keita in the summer transfer window.
According to our report from Give Me Sport, West Ham United will prioritise a move for 21-year-old Belgian midfielder Mandela Keita over a permanent deal for Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips.
Philips joined West Ham on loan during the January transfer window. But he has been quite poor for the Londoners so far. It is no surprise that the Hammers do not want to sign him permanently. Instead, Mandela Keita has emerged as a target for them.
Kalvin Phillips was one of the best defensive midfielders in the league during his time at Leeds United. But his career has gone downhill since the move to Manchester City. He never quite managed to hold down a regular starting spot with the Premier League champions, and he was eventually loaned out to West Ham so that he can get his career back on track with regular football.
It has not been the case so far, and Phillips has struggled at West Ham. The Hammers will want to get rid of him at the end of the season, and it makes sense for them to invest in a talented young player like Keita.
Mandela Keita would be a future investment
The Belgian is highly rated across Europe, and he has a big future ahead of him. He could develop into a key player for the Hammers in the coming seasons. West Ham need midfield reinforcements in the summer, and the 21-year-old would be a long-term investment.
The opportunity to move to the Premier League will be an attractive proposition for the young midfielder, and he will look to establish himself as a key performer for the Hammers in the premier league.
If he manages to impress with West Ham in the coming seasons, he might be able to secure a move to a top European club as well. West Ham are currently competing in Europe, and it remains to be seen whether they can secure European football for the next season. They will be an attractive destination for most players.
The 21-year-old Belgian has the physicality and technical attributes to adapt to English football, and it remains to be seen whether the Hammers can get a deal across the line.
