West Ham United’s interest in Roggerio Nyakossi is now making waves in the Swiss press, although competition is fast emerging in the shape of reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.
Suggestions that OH Leuven could let Nyakossi go for a bargain £8 million, meanwhile, appear somewhat wide of the mark.
RB Leipzig signed Ezechiel Banzuzi – a former West Ham United target – for double that figure last summer.
Tell us West Ham’s signing of the season… 💰
Is it Diouf, Fernandes, Disasi, Hermansen or someone else? 🤔
Malick Diouf playing for West Ham against Newcastle United. Mateus Fernandes playing for West Ham against Tottenham.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Blick, one of the most recognisable publications in Switzerland, claim that OH Leuven could expect to bring in a fee ‘significantly’ larger than the £16 million sum which took Banzuzi to the Bundesliga.
Blick add that Nyakossi is ‘preparing’ for another change of scenery, despite only moving to Belgium from Marseille in 2025.
He will certainly not be short of offers.
West Ham United face plenty of Premier League competition for Roggerio Nyakossi
Roggerio Nyakossi - Switzerland v France - UEFA Under21 EURO Qualifier
Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images
It is claimed that Liverpool are showing ‘genuine interest’ in Nyakossi, comparisons drawn with the out-of-contract Ibrahima Konate. Blick have corroborated those Liverpool claims, while also talking up the admiration of Everton, Crystal Palace and the Hammers.
West Ham, they add, started ‘monitoring’ Nyakossi during the January transfer window. The 6ft 4ins giant, capped by Switzerland at Under-21 level, is one to keep a close eye on heading into the summer, then, alongside the likes of Charlie Cresswell and Oscar Mingueza.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
“When you see the names of some clubs, it’s frankly flattering,” Nyakossi said last month, albeit without mentioning exactly which clubs sparked such emotion.
“It shows that hard work pays off. I still have ten matches left with Leuven. After that, we’ll see what happens.”
Nyakossi has similarities with Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi
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
Nyakossi is a right-footed centre-half. So while West Ham are expected to replace left-footer Max Kilman, the Geneva-born 22-year-old may be viewed internally as a potential successor for Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi.
Chelsea reportedly value Disasi at around £20 million. It remains to be seen if West Ham would be willing to match his wage demands, however. Or indeed the ambitions of a defender who may want to kick-start his France career at a club offering European football.
At 6ft 4ins, Nyakossi is unsurprisingly a towering physical presence. The youngster is also renowned for his excellent passing range and also his natural-born leadership skills. He captains Switzerland at Under-21 level.
It goes without saying that West Ham may struggle to match the allure of Liverpool. The prospect of regular first-team action much earlier in his Premier League career, however, could be a useful ace up Hammers’ sleeves.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox