West Ham United took a close look at PSV Eindhoven star Ismael Saibari ahead of the January transfer window.
Since then, the Morocco international has fired PSV to a third successive Eredivisie title, has racked up a career-best tally of goals, and even found the net on the biggest club stage of all against none other than the mighty Bayern Munich.
Saibari was already being called the ‘best player in the Eredivisie’ when Hammers News revealed West Ham United’s interest back in November.
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
Five months on, the masterful Moroccan is now arguably also the most valuable player in the Eredivisie, too.
Potentially, in it’s entire history.
West Ham United are big fans of PSV’s Eredivisie-winning talisman Ismael Saibari
Because PSV technical director Earnest Stewart, speaking after PSV secured the earliest league title in the history of Dutch football with a 4-3 win over Utrecht last weekend, predicts that Saibari could become the second-biggest export ever in the competition.
“You hear through the grapevine what is being asked for other players,” Stewart told ESPN. “Then, for one of the best players in the Dutch league, I think we should also aim a bit higher. That seems very logical to me.
EredivisiePSV ceremony
Photo by ANP via Getty Images
“We will see how things go and what kind of interest comes in, but it is clear that he is one of the standout players in the Eredivisie. He won’t just leave.”
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When asked whether PSV would be looking to bring in a minimum of £60 million for Saibari, Stewart said; ‘probably’.
The occasionally ‘unstoppable’ Saibari has already been tipped for Real Madrid. On this form – he took his tally to 18 with a pair of explosive finishes in that Utrecht match – there is an argument to suggest he could follow ex-Ajax playmaker Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona at some point down the line.
Nuno’s squad is certainly STRONGER three months on! ⚒️ 🆚 🐺
Who has been the biggest upgrade? Disasi for Kilman surely…
West Ham v Wolves XI on January 3rd, 2006
Saibari tipped to emulate Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie
For West Ham, if PSV really are demanding at least £60 million, Saibari has simply developed so much in the last few months that he has now moved out of the Hammers’ financial orbit.
“70 to 75 million euros, I don’t think that’s crazy at all. Saibari is simply really worth 70 million euros,” former Eredivisie coach Robert Maaskant tells Sportnieuws, drawing comparisons with some of the greatest-ever Dutch exports.
“He can really compete with the European elite. Players with so much talent grow along with the level that is required. Arjen Robben, Clarence Seedorf, and Robin van Persie did that too.
“Those are guys who immediately adapted to a higher level. Saibari can do that as well.”
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