West Ham United might just have a handy ace up their sleeve as Nuno Espirito Santo’s resurgent Premier League outfit face up to a potential January battle with Borussia Dortmund.
Yes, Nuno raved about the Mateus Fernandes – Freddie Potts partnership after West Ham United recorded successive top-flight wins against Burnley, while also highlighting an impressive Soungoutou Magassa cameo off the bench.
But although the Hammers boss appears to have belatedly found the midfield pairing he was looking for, that will not stop Nuno Espirito Santo pushing to enhance his options further during the rapidly-approaching winter window.
Hammers News were told this week by a leading transfer source that Nuno wanted Quinten Timber at Nottingham Forest. With his contract at Dutch giants Feyenoord expiring next summer, there is a belief that a deal is there to be done, provided West Ham have the funds.
Timber is reportedly valued at around £23 million. His contract situation, though, could force Feyenoord to accept a lower fee.
Now, German giants Borussia Dortmund are making a push of their own. Per Sky Deutschland reporter Patrick Berger, Dortmund scouted Timber during Feyenoord’s 2-0 Europa League defeat by Stuttgart last week.
But, as Hammers News’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey explains, West Ham could be handed a leg-up by an unexpected ally a few miles north at Arsenal.
Jurrien Timber and co celebrate during Arsenal v Crystal Palace - Premier League
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber wants West Ham United target Quinten to move to London
Quinten is the twin brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber. The two siblings have not played together at club level since they were in the Feyenoord academy, though.
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Jurrien left for Ajax before making the move to the English capital.
But Hammers News can reveal that Jurrien is ‘pushing’ Quinten to follow in his footsteps. A reunion at Arsenal does not appear to be on the cards, but the former would understandably love to have his twin brother located within travelling distance of the Emirates Stadium.
“Quinton Timber is a fascinating option emerging for a number of clubs heading into 2026,” Bailey says. “And West Ham are one of those looking.
“I am told his brother Jurrien is pushing him to come to England, even though he has a number of options around Europe.”
Hammers may have to wait until the summer to sign Feyenoord midfielder
In addition to Dortmund, Porto are rumoured to be interested. Francesco Farioli, their head coach, knows Timber well from his time in charge of Ajax last season.
Funds are still tight at the London Stadium, though. This is why West Ham are not ruling out selling Lucas Paqueta in January. A big departure, a la Mohammed Kudus in July, could be what is required to free up the money needed for new additions. Niclas Fullkrug is another the Hammers could move on.
Bailey explains that West Ham may look to wait until next summer, when Timber is available on a free.
“Timber would be a very good fit for West Ham, but they might have to wait until the summer,” the transfer export says. “Getting him in January will be very difficult. Getting any player to move to a relegation threatened side in the January window is difficult.”
PSV Eindhoven’s Ismael Saibari may be out of reach
Timber is a dynamic, ball-carrying, attack-minded central midfielder who loves to burst forward from deep and attempt shots at goal. Dutch icon Rafael van der Vaart called Timber a ‘Champions League-level’ talent recently too, and he is not the easiest pundit to please.
Nuno reportedly wants more athleticism in the centre of the park. Timber ticks many of the same boxes as Mateus Fernandes before his £40 million arrival from Southampton.
Hammers News have been informed that PSV Eindhoven’s Ismael Saibari is a target, too.
Again, though, Bailey is not holding his breath.
“Saibari is a player attracting a lot of attention,” Bailey said last week of a Morocco international who has scored 10 times in 17 PSV games this season. “He is in fine form and most importantly is likely to be available in January.
“But West Ham are going to come up against issues persuading players, especially in a World Cup year, to join the fight.”