Following his appointment as West Ham United’s Director of Player Recruitment last week, Nils Koppen may have the perfect opportunity to get a deal over the line straight away.
The former Rangers and PSV chief is renowned for his focus on young, hungry talent and considerable re-sale potential. Hence the £200,000 signing – and eventual £52 million sale – of Ismael Saibari at the Eredivisie champions.
At Ibrox, Koppen is best remembered for the Hamza Igamane masterclass; a £1.7 million striker plucked from Moroccan football, sold for profit 16 goals and one year later.
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So a 20-year-old midfielder, recently relegated from the top-flight of French football and available for a bargain fee, would in some ways be a fitting way to kick off the Nils Koppen era at West Ham United.
Alpha Toure is keen on joining Koppen in East London too, it seems.
But an offer from Saudi Arabia, and FC Metz’s keenness to accept a deal from the Middle East, offers the Belgian talent-spotter the opportunity to kick off his Hammers career with an early win, an impressive hijack, and one of the brightest young midfielders to come out of Africa.
Alpha Toure reportedly chooses West Ham United over Saudi Arabia
According to L’Equipe, Metz accepted a bid last week from Saudi outfit Al-Diraiyah.
This, though, does not guarantee that Toure is on his way to Riyadh. Far from it. Unlike in the Mateus Fernandes situation – West Ham managed to entice £85 million out of Tottenham after Fernandes deviated away from his dream destination of Old Trafford [a reported £250,000-a-week wage will have that effect] – there appears to be only one destination Toure is interested in.
According to Africa Foot, Toure has ‘given his word’ to West Ham. While Metz accepted Al-Diraiyah’s offer, the Senegal youth international has reportedly done precisely the opposite.
Toure is keeping offers from Saudi at arms’ length while he waits for West Ham.
“I try to focus strictly on football. Although it’s true that rumours exist and there were discussions, I was concentrated on FC Metz [last season],” Toure told 13 TV a few days ago.
“However, I am interested in championships like the Premier League or the Championship because of the intensity of the [games] there.”
Koppen says his ‘first focus’ is on building the next West Ham squad
If Koppen wants him – although West Ham’s interest in Toure pre-dates the appointment of their new recruitment chief – the chances are that he will get him.
The Hammers need only match the £6 million bid on the table from Al-Diraiyah – something Man United never did once Spurs slapped down £85 million for Fernandes – and Alpha Toure will surely become the first signing of the Koppen era.
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“I am really pleased to have this fantastic opportunity and very much looking forward to joining such a big club and being a part of something new,” Koppen said during his official unveiling over the weekend.
“I’m also looking forward to working with Nuno – he is a very experienced and highly-respected head coach.
“The first focus will obviously be the transfer window and identifying the correct players to move us forward next season. We also want to keep the core squad intact.
“They had a very good run at the end of the Premier League season, so if we can keep that together and not make too many changes, we can start off with a good base.”
Toure, while perhaps not an immediate game-changer of a signing, is Koppen’s M.O. The sort of bargain, up-and-coming addition upon which he has built his reputation.
The youngster made 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season, starting 14. While a central midfielder by trade, his left footedness and his ability to play effectively at full-back may appeal to a coach in Nuno who admires versatility.
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