West Ham have a lot of business to doplaceholder image
West Ham have a lot of business to do | Getty Images
West Ham are said to be eyeing a Bundesliga attacking midfielder ahead of the deadline.
West Ham are now said to be eyeing a Bundesliga midfielder as they look to add much-needed signings to Graham Potter’s sub-par squad. The Hammers have been slow with their transfer business this summer, especially in the context of two starters leaving the club, and it has left many predicting a relegation battle.
After struggling to turn things around last season, Graham Potter likely can’t afford to find himself in that position, but he may have a fair excuse as things stand. His squad is not strong enough to realistically compete for a top half finish.
The transfer window shuts on Monday night, and it is likely the Iron will make - or at least try to make - a handful of signings before that point. One reported target is Werder Bremen attacking midfielder Romano Schmid.
The 25-year-old scored five and assisted six last season, and he looks to have a big ceiling, given his age and ability. The Austrian is only under contract for another year, and that could create the necessary scenario for a deal to be be done.
Schmid has been a key player for Austria, and speaking to Bremen’s website about his big role at Euro 2024, he said: “It was an incredible experience with, more importantly, incredible people. I’ve known many of the boys for a long time now. When you play together every single day and do your bit towards making your dream become a reality, it’s truly a special feeling.
“We’re more of a family than just a football team. Ultimately, it still hurts to look back on the tournament, as the team and everyone in Austria knew that we could’ve come away with more. However, we were able to prove that we could come first in a group with the Netherlands, Poland and France, which just goes to show how far we’ve come and that we’re still continuing to grow as a footballing nation.”
Former Werder Bremen boss Florian Kohfeldt said of Schmid when he broke through back in 2021: “The moment came to put him out there and see how he performs at that level. I have to say, he really impressed me. Romano is one of those players on the up. He works hard on his own game and is very ambitious. He’s a good lad and we’ll continue to help him grow and improve together.”
Transfermarkt currently value Schmid at at £14.6million, but it’s unclear how much West Ham would have to pay.
Continue Reading