The summer transfer window hasn’t even begun yet and, already, there is disappointment for West Ham United as Graham Potter looks to turn the ship around at the Premier League underachievers.
Because, despite their best efforts, one of the most highly-rated young midfielders will not be wearing claret and blue next season, but rather the white and red of RB Leipzig.
The Bundesliga giants secured Ezechiel Banzuzi’s services while paying a fee of around £13 million. West Ham United had a bid rejected in January at a reported £10 million, but any plans they may have been putting into place for a renewed offer can now be scrapped.
Still only 20 years of age, the 6ft 3ins, box-to-box Banzuzi heads to RB Leipzig after an excellent season with OH Leuven in Belgium.
He’s scored three goals and assisted six more, while also drawing comparisons with former France star Paul Pogba and Liverpool playmaker Ryan Gravenberch.
Like Pogba and Gravenberch, Banzuzi’s tall, rangy frame belies an elegance and a smoothness of movement in possession.
Ezechiel Banzuzi explains why he did not join West Ham United
Speaking to the Belgian media once he became the latest bright young thing to sign up to the Red Bull finishing school, meanwhile, Banzuzi only adds to West Ham’s frustration by admitting that he was indeed offered the chance to move to the London Stadium.
West Ham reportedly had a bid accepted by OH Leuven, only to fail to get the deal over the line.
“It wasn’t an easy period,” the Netherlands Under-21 international explains, having also come close to joining AS Monaco in France. “I had a personal agreement with AS Monaco in the winter, but that didn’t happen. It was all very sudden. That really affected me.
“And West Ham also came knocking, but that didn’t happen either.”
For the first time, Banzuzi also explains why his mid-season switch to the London Stadium did not come to fruition.
“Leuven wanted to keep me here for a while, to fight against relegation,” Banzuzi adds, a team coached by former Wales boss Chris Coleman eventually securing a mid-table spot. “I really wanted to take that step [and leave], but it didn’t happen.”
“It’s crazy [that I am now joining RB Leipzig for £13 million]. I remember that last summer there was talk of five, at most six million euros. Things can go fast, you know. I feel proud that so much money was paid for me. And that I can give something back to the club in this way.
“That makes me happy.”
RB Leipzig delighted to beat West Ham in Banzuzi race
Some have suggested that, given his impressive ball-carrying talents and his imposing frame, Ezechiel Banzuzi could have filled a Declan Rice-shaped hole in a West Ham midfield relatively low on athletes.
“As a central midfielder, he likes to play a big part in the game,” explains Marcal Schafer, a board member at RB Leipzig explaining what The Hammers could have had.
“He’s a good passer of the ball and can be dangerous in the final third too, in particular from set pieces. He’s young, hungry, has lots of potential and is therefore exactly the kind of player we wanted to sign.
“We’re really pleased that Ezechiel wants to take the next step in his career with us.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
