Nils Koppen was not giving anything away when asked about a potential move to West Ham United for Copenhagen’s former Rangers and PSV Eindhoven talentspotter.
The Hammers are reportedly closing in on Koppen; the 41-year-old Belgian is in line to become the club’s technical director of player recruitment.
Between 2018 and 2023, Koppen helped construct a PSV Eindhoven side who have won each of the last three Eredivisie titles. The respected talentspotter had a lot of admirers at Rangers, too.
Nils Koppen helped build PSV’s title-winning squad! What do you want from him at West Ham?
And, a year after leaving Glasgow, he now looks set to bring his keen eye for a bargain to English football for the first time.
Koppen was in mood to confirm or deny negotiations with West Ham United when his current employers – FC Copenhagen – faced Swedish champions Mjallby in a friendly on Saturday, though.
Nils Koppen refuses to confirm West Ham United move
When asked by Copenhagen Sundays whether he would be sticking around in Denmark, Koppen’s response was a curt ‘don’t know’.
Koppen joined Copenhagen as their head of scouting in October 2025. He has since been promoted to technical director, though the chance to bring his extensive contact book to the London Stadium is one that seemingly holds great appeal.
West Ham can expect more signings akin to Mohamadou Kante – the £500,000 teenager brought in from the French second tier in 2024 – if indeed the Belgian arrives.
Koppen signed Ismael Saibari and Johan Bakayoko for PSV, among many others. The duo were lured from youth football in Belgium for a combined £200,000 and, once the former completes his mega-money move to Bayern Munich, PSV will have banked a profit in excess of £70 million.
See every player linked with West Ham! Who stands out MOST to you? 🤔
Let us know below 👇
At Rangers, Koppen’s most inspired addition was the £1.7 million signing of a little-known Hamza Igamane from Moroccan football. Igamane scored 16 goals in his one and only season at Ibrox, moving onto Lille for around £10 million last summer.
The Hammers initially looked set to appoint long-serving Newcastle chief Steve Nickson. However, they appear to have turned their attention to Koppen as Wrexham make a move of their own for Nickson.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
