West Ham are in a strong position to sign Dutch midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi from Belgian side OH Leuven, according to The Standard.
The young talent has impressed as a strong and energetic midfielder for Leuven this season, making him a regular starter for the Netherlands U21s.
Banzuzi has nine goal contributions in 30 games this campaign and has reportedly caught the eye of numerous European sides.
The Hammers reportedly tried to strike a deal for the midfielder in the January transfer window but couldn’t reach an agreement with Leuven, but they’re expected to renew their interest this summer with Banzuzi set to leave the club at the end of the season.
OH Leuven were seeking just over £12 million for the 20-year-old in January, and with the player’s departure from the club now likely, the Hammers will hope to secure a deal at that price or lower.
Banzuzi might be exactly what Potter is after
BBC’s Simon Stone expects Potter to invest in younger players in the summer, with West Ham currently having the second-oldest average starting XI in the league this season.
He had little to work with in the midfield department when joining the club, which led to the 49-year-old recalling James Ward-Prowse from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest.
Banzuzi feels like an ideal candidate for Potter in the midfield, particularly with the current midfield lacking youth and energy, and the 20-year-old would tick both of those boxes should he join the club.
The Dutchman seems like a midfielder well-suited to Potter’s system, particularly in his favoured five-at-the-back formation where a strong midfield is crucial to winning battles in the centre of the park, meaning Banzuzi may just be the missing key in West Ham and Graham Potter’s starting XI.