If the prospect of West Ham United signing one of Inter Milan’s key players in January seemed unlikely already, the man himself has now moved to dispel those Premier League links once and for all.
With reinforcements targeted across the pitch, the Hammers have been linked with a host of ambitious moves.
Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee have been targeted. Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez – the teenager tipped to emulate Andres Iniesta at Barcelona – was mentioned too in the press. Hammers News can also confirm that West Ham approached Real Madrid about the prospect of signing either Gonzalo Garcia or the seemingly Lyon-bound Endrick on loan.
Ruben Amorim is determined to keep Mainoo and Zirkzee at Old Trafford. Fernandez is on the verge of a first-team breakout under Hansi Flick in Catalonia. Endrick is seemingly on his way to France, though Garcia’s future is less certain.
Ambitious, yes. Attainable, not so much.
And on the subject of Inter Milan colossus Yann Aurel Bisseck, the towering Germany international has now indicated to BILD that West Ham United would be wasting their time with a January approach.
Inter Milan’s Yann Aurel Bisseck breaks silence on West ham United links
Bisseck has already rejected a move to the Premier League with Crystal Palace.
Oliver Glasner’s FA Cup winners reportedly offered £27 million for the 6ft 5ins centre-back. An offer which fell short of Inter’s £35 million price-tag, and also did little to tempt the player himself.
West Ham, it seems, will suffer the same fate if they attempt to succeed where Palace failed.
Bisseck is still working his way back to full fitness after an injury which ruled him out of the summer’s Club World Cup. The FC Cologne academy graduate, with one cap for the German national team, is now starting to make his mark under new Inter coach Christian Chivu.
“After the injury in the Champions League final [which Inter lost 5-0 to Paris Saint-Germain], it was a really tough time for me,” Bisseck says. “But I had excellent medical care. I remained patient and, above all, I tried to be ready through daily training.
“I knew that sooner or later my opportunity would come. And lately, I’ve managed to make the most of it.”
Bisseck has started three of Inter’s last four matches in Serie A and the Champions League.
“When I wasn’t playing as much, I happened to read some of the transfer rumours circulating about me,” he adds, responding to those West Ham links. “But now I try to leave them out [of my mind] and focus completely on our goals and Inter’s ambitions.
“I’m very happy to be back as an important part of such a strong team.”
Bisseck turned down Crystal Palace after the Champions League final
Hammers News chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey admitted back in October that West Ham would be fighting a losing battle if they tried to convince Bisseck to turn his back on a bonafide Champions League regular.
“Bisseck is a player liked by Cristian Chivu, but he is not a regular starter,” Bailey said. “I am told that Inter would consider a sale, even though they like him. [But] he is highly unlikely to be involved in a loan with an option, especially with a team in relegation trouble.
“We know [Bisseck] snubbed interest from Crystal Palace in the summer. A good player, but hard to see how West Ham could get this one done if they tried.”
Which position do West Ham need to strengthen the most and why? Who is your dream January signing?
West Ham have held talks regarding Charlie Cresswell at Toulouse and Alexsandro of Lille. Nuno Espirito Santo made Alexsandro his first choice when replacing Graham Potter, though it remains to be seen how the £25 million-rated Brazil international recovers from a recent injury concern.
A £15.8 million bid was lodged for Lecce’s Tiago Gabriel, according to Gazzetta dello Sport this week.
But Pantaleo Corvino, the club’s technical director, has since confirmed that Portugal Under-21 international Gabriel will not be sold in the winter.
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