Do not be surprised if Nils Koppen, West Ham United’s new Director of Player Recruitment, puts a real emphasis on the Danish market this summer.
Koppen left Copenhagen for East London, after all.
And even before his nine month spell in the Scandinavian capital, the former Rangers and PSV Eindhoven talent-spotter had been keeping a keen eye on developments in Denmark. Koppen took Mohamed Diomande to Rangers from FC Nordsjaelland, after all.
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The 41-year-old Belgian also watched on as Norwich City raided the Superliga for prolific Aussie Mo Toure in January.
Philippe Clement, the Canaries coach who Koppen knows well from their time together at Ibrox and KRC Genk, has Norwich supporters hoping that they will be in position to challenge West Ham United and co for an automatic promotion spot in 2026/27. Toure, outstanding since his arrival, could make that a possibility.
Nils Koppen could bring Denil Castillo to West Ham United
Speaking of West Ham, according to El Diario, Midtjylland and Ecuador midfielder Denil Castillo is a target in East London. A 22-year-old midfielder who was part of his nation’s World Cup squad, Castillo was part of the Midtjylland side who beat Koppen’s Copenhagen in the final of the Danish Cup in May.
Looking back at what Koppen told Anglian publication the Pink ‘Un last month, no one should be shocked to learn that Koppen may be looking to bring a Denmark-based talent with him to West Ham.
“The Danish league is quite physical and has a good mentality,” Koppen said, speaking as Norwich followed up the signings of Pelle Mattson, Mathias Kvistgaarden and ex-Brondby playmaker Anis Ben Slimane with the aforementioned Toure; nine goals in 11 Championship matches after joining the Canaries from Randers.
“It’s a very interesting market for Norwich. They’ve had success with Mattsson and Toure. Kvistgaarden is a bit different, and Slimane is a physical type with really good technique. It’s a league where you can still find undervalued players who can have a good career in the Championship.”
Koppen had particular praise Mattsson, a powerhouse midfielder who can ‘cover ground, win duels and can run through a wall’. West Ham’s own engine room is arguably lacking such a profile – especially after Mateus Fernandes completed an £85 million move to Tottenham.
The 6ft 2ins Castillo may therefore be a welcome addition. The five-time Ecuador international uses his long legs and elastic frame to hold off defenders, shielding the ball before carrying it forwards and skipping through challenges.
Castillo also possesses an impressive turn of pace and a balletic elegance which belies his size.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given his position and his nationality, Castillo has been likened to Chelsea’s £115 million talisman Moises Caicedo; a destroyer and a playmaker rolled into one 6ft 2ins package.
Castillo has been compared to Chelsea ace Moises Caicedo
Stats side Football Kit highlight the defensive statistics which rank ‘remarkably’ similarly to those of Caicedo at Stamford Bridge. Castillo averages nearly eight ball recoveries per game and wins 50 per cent of his duels compared to Caicedo’s 52 per cent.
Football Kit add that Castillo ‘excels’ when pressuring the opponents high up the pitch and winning the ball in the attacking half.
“The young Ecuadorian is a prime example of the new-age defensive midfielder,” they write. “Primarily a ball-winning midfielder, he possesses the tactical intelligence to also function as a deep-lying playmaker, dictating tempo from the base of midfield.
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“His frame gives him a physical advantage in duels, which he leverages with impressive technical skill from his preferred right foot.
“The closest statistical comparison in the English Premier League is his compatriot, Moises Caicedo, during his time at Brighton. Both players exhibit a similar high volume of pressures, impressive ball recovery numbers, and a balanced approach to winning the ball through both tackles and interceptions, marking them as all-action midfielders.”
Koppen has spoken about the need to be ‘creative’ in the market and think ‘outside the box’ in pursuit of affordable, under-the-radar additions.
Five years after Brighton snapped up a little-known Caicedo in a £4 million deal from Independiente del Valle, if West Ham were to find similar value in Castillo, this would be a pretty promising start to the Koppen era.
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