West Ham United have reportedly made an ‘offer’ for VFL Osnabruck forward Ismail Badjie. But, following promotion to Germany’s second-tier, landing the youngster might not be an easy task.
While the Hammers were relegated despite racking up 39 points in the Premier League – the third-highest tally ever recorded by a bottom-three side – the Purple and White side from Lower Saxony are looking forward to their return to Bundesliga.2.
VFL Osnabruck secured promotion in 2025/26. Ismael Badjie reportedly caught West Ham’s eye while scoring nine times in 33 games along the way.
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Now, West Ham United were mentioned by German publication DeichStube as one of three clubs who have submitted ‘offers’ for the 20-year-old attacker. Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach appear to be the others.
But speaking to NOZ, Osnabruck’s director of football Joe Enochs insists that his second-tier returnees will not be bullied into selling.
West Ham United eye Osnabruck talisman Ismael Badjie
“We occasionally receive inquiries for good players, but not in recent days. We’ve made it clear; we don’t want to let go of our best and most valuable players,” a bullish Enochs said. “I can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to stick to that.
“But the clear plan is that the players mentioned [including Badjie] will also be playing here next season.”
Money talks, of course.
A sizeable offer from England, in particular, would ask whether Enochs bark is worse than his bite. The director uses the example of last season’s third-tier rivals Hansa Rostock, who reluctantly sold star forward Ryan Naderi to Rangers in January.
“Hansa Rostock definitely didn’t want to sell Ryan Naderi to Glasgow Rangers in the winter. But, for 5.5 million euros, they couldn’t say no anymore,” he says. “But again; we assume that Badjie, [Robin] Fabinski, and [Robin] Meißner will be with us next season.”
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Badjie made the majority of his 33 appearances in attacking midfield last term. He can also play on the flanks.
“There are certain qualities a player needs to possess in every position,” explains Enochs, taken aback by Badjie’s emergence as a reliable source of goals. “Or we have the vision that the player can develop into those qualities.
“Who would have thought before last season that Isy Badjie would score nine goals, most of them decisive?”
Badjie is not the only young attacking talent to catch the eye in mainland Europe.
Recently-departed head of recruitment Max Hahn recommended Metz midfielder Alpha Toure to West Ham, while his teammate Pape Moussa Fall reportedly caught the eye while scoring 14 times on loan in Belgium.
ESTAC Troyes playmaker Martin Adeline was linked via the Daily Mail this week.
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