It goes without saying that, with a season of Championship football looming for West Ham United, Bayern Munich will not be facing competition from the London Stadium for the signature of a £52 million-rated midfielder.
Hammers News reported late last year that West Ham were looking at PSV Eindhoven sensation Ismael Saibari ahead of the January transfer window.
Centre-forwards and central defenders would become the priority, though.
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West Ham United invested over £40 million on Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe, in addition to the loan signing of Axel Disasi, while Saibari would stay in Eindhoven to secure himself a second successive Eredivisie title.
With PSV now demanding an eye-watering 60 million euros, per Eindhovens Dagblad, the chances are that West Ham would have been priced out of the race for Saibari, even if they had finished on the right side of the dotted line.
Bayern Munich want former West Ham United target Ismail Saibari
According to Fabrizio Romano, writing on his X account, Saibari now has his heart set on joining Vincent Kompany’s runaway Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich this summer.
“Official talks between Bayern and PSV Eindhoven are already underway, while the agreement on player side is not an issue,” Romano writes. “Vincent Kompany has already approved Saibari’s profile.
“Deal depends on [the] fee/cost now.”
Eindhovens Dagblad say that PSV are hoping to bring in around £52 million. Such a fee would make Saibari the most expensive sale in their history, ahead of Ibrahim Sangare [Nottingham Forest], Cody Gakpo [Liverpool], and former Napoli winger Hirving Lozano.
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Interestingly, Saibari has been likened to Bayern Munich legend Arjen Robben, albeit more because of his ability to make the step up from the relatively weak Dutch Eredivisie rather than anything to do with his playing style.
Provider of 15 goals and eight assists last term, and the author of an iconic hat-trick away at Feyenoord, Saibari is a skilful yet athletic attacking midfielder more in the mould of a Jamal Musiala or a Mateus Fernandes.
Recent reports suggest West Ham are targeting young, promising talents such as Alpha Toure or Pape Moussa Fall in the event of relegation.
However, the money brought in via the sales of Fernandes or Crysencio Summerville could open the door to more ambitious targets. Albeit, those on a much lower level – financially or ability-wise – than Saibari.
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