West Ham United were linked with a move for El Chadaille Bitshiabu during the January transfer window. And, considering how things have panned out for him since, RB Leipzig’s former Paris Saint-Germain youngster may be wishing such a transfer had come about.
While the Hammers have calmed concerns over Axel Disasi, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo – all three should be fit to face Wolves on Friday – Champions League-chasing RB Leipzig will not be quite so fortunate.
Star centre-back Castello Lukeba is expected to miss the weekend’s clash with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Nuno has a few selection dilemmas before Wolves arrive on Friday
Who would you pick in the manager's shoes?
Pick your winners from these selection debates!
But if the aforementioned, West Ham United-linked El Chadaille Bitshiabu had hoped to make his mark in Lukeba’s absence, well, we’d recommend he doesn’t get his hopes up.
El Chadaille Bitshiabu omitted by Leipzig after West Ham United links
Both West Ham and Leeds were mentioned in conjunction with Bitshiabu during the January window. He has not played a single minute of Bundesliga football since the window closed.
Though RB Leipzig coach Ole Werner called Bitshiabu the ‘logical choice’ to replace Lukeba during a previous injury absence, something has clearly changed.
El Chadaille Bitshiabu before FC Bayern München v RB Leipzig - DFB Cup Quarter Final
Photo by Marcel Engelbrecht – firo sportphoto/Getty Images
Midfielder Nicolas Seiwald dropped in at centre-half when Lukeba was forced off during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Werder Bremen. Bitshiabu, therefore, remained a frustrated spectator on the bench.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
This, Kicker write, was a clear vote of no confidence from the coach.’
‘Since [the end of January], Werner has no longer considered him for selection. Bitshiabu moved from Paris Saint-Germain to Leipzig almost three years ago for a hefty 15 million euros, but failed to live up to the high expectations.’
Bild add that Leipzig rejected winter bids – Monaco, Lyon and Gladbach were also interested, seemingly alongside West Ham – because they did not want to leave themselves short of centre-halves mid-season. It is being reported, however, that a summer departure is considered ‘inevitable’.
Max Kilman and Axel Disasi could leave the London Stadium
Whether West Ham decide to cast the rod again remains to be seen.
Max Kilman is expected to leave the London Stadium – a new low was reached in the FA Cup quarter-finals when Kilman was booed by sections of the home fans – and there will be room at the Hammers for another left-footed centre-back.
Axel Disasi, who has played mostly on the left since arriving on loan from Chelsea, also faces an uncertain future.
They say never fall in love with a loan player, but we’ve all done it before 😂
A graphic asking West Ham United fans when they last loved a loan player as much as Axel Disasi.
Credit; Getty Images/Izzy Poles – AMA
Leipzig certainly won’t stand in Bitshiabu’s way, though West Ham would be taking a risk on an as-yet unproven youngster with only four Bundesliga starts to his name in 2025/26.
On the other hand, per Football Talent Scout, Bitshiabu is a defender with ‘world-class potential’. At 20, the France youth international should not be written off so early in his still-embryonic career.
Bitshiabu only needs look at fellow Frenchman Disasi for inspiration. He would not be the first player to join a new club having been sidelined by a previous manager, channelling all that frustration into one hell of a redemption arc.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox