Premier League strugglers West Ham United might have stumbled across what those in the business call a ‘market opportunity’.
Take, for instance, Manchester United’s pursuit of AFC Bournemouth talisman Antoine Semenyo.
Spending £60 million on another forward when additions are so clearly needed in midfield may feel like splurging your budget on a brand new 4K TV when the ceiling is coming in. Yet, the Red Devils know that Semenyo is an opportunity they either jump at now or live to regret later.
West Ham United may be taking the same stance with Eredivisie ‘Assist King’ Souffian El Karouani.
The ASSIST KING may be coming to West Ham! 👑
How do you feel about those Souffian El Karouani links?
Utrecht’s set-piece specialist El Karouani batted his eyelashes at West Ham in a less-than-subtle ‘come and get me’ plea this week.
While Nuno Espirito Santo is desperate for a striker and while talks with Toulouse continue for Charlie Cresswell, rival interest from Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Porto means the Hammers either go for El Karouani now or risk seeing him slip through their grasp.
Rene van der Gijp, the former Netherlands international, certainly believes the time has come for the Dutch-born Moroccan to make the next step.
Rene van der Gijp talks up West Ham United target Souffian El Karouani
While El Hadji Malick Diouf reached three assists faster than any other full-back in Europe’s major leagues this season, El Karouani has now racked up a sensational 15 from 29 appearances in domestic and continental action.
The ex-NEC Nijmegen wideman would arguably be a depth signing than a guaranteed starter – Diouf appears to have the left-back spot sewn up – but El Karouani may be an upgrade in that role over Ollie Scarles.
“He has a truly amazing left foot,” Van der Gijp tells Vandaag Inside. “Hardly any free kicks end up with an opponent.
“I’m so afraid a club will come along and think; ‘He’s a free agent, always good!'”
El Karouani’s contract is due to expire next summer. Van der Gijp is reminded of Owen Wijndal, the left-back who struggled to make the step up after leaving AZ Alkmaar for Ajax in 2022, but he feels that the 25-year-old Utrecht ace should not be underestimated.
“You know, he’s unlucky [to be compared] with Wijndal,” Van der Gijp argues. “Because Wijndal went to Ajax and that didn’t work out. That’s why a lot of people say, ‘He’s Utrecht’s left-back, and you never know if that will work out’.
“I’m telling you; he’ll play effortlessly at all three top clubs [Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord].”
Valentijn Driessen has concerns over Premier League switch
According to Jeroen Kapteijns, Utrecht were ready to complete a £7 million deal with Krasnodar last summer before negotiations collapsed. RTV Rijnmond now go as far as to suggest that El Karouani is ‘on his way to West Ham’, though it remains to be seen if his price-tag has changed from a few months ago.
Dutch expert Valentijn Driessen has doubts, though. Not only about El Karouani’s defensive qualities – like Diouf, he is better going forward than he is in his own half – but also about a potential switch to a side five points from safety in the Premier League.
“You shouldn’t do that, because they’re going to be relegated,” a pessimistic Driessen says. “You’ll never get out of the Championship.
“[Portuguese powerhouses Porto] would be a fantastic club.”
How far can Malick Diouf go? And what does he need to do to become a world-class left-back?
While Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and the aforementioned Diouf appear to have a World Cup ticket in the bag, El Karouani believes a January transfer to a major European competition would boost his own hopes of forcing his way into the Morocco squad.
“It’s a goal of mine to reach the World Cup,” he tells the media. “Going to a bigger club can also make a difference. A club might come along in January, buy me, and I’ll play every game there.
“Or I might play every game here. That’s also a possibility. It could go either way. But I want a win-win situation for FC Utrecht.
“They can make some money off me. I want to leave through the front door. I will sit down with my father and agent and assess the situation. But first, I’ll focus on these [final matches of 2025].”
“[A move to England] could happen. It’s a great club. My agent is working on my behalf. I’m waiting to see what happens. I can look back on a wonderful year in Utrecht.”
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