As those Aaron Ramsdale links grow quiet and as Parma set out their stall regarding Zion Suzuki, another name emerged on West Ham United’s goalkeeping shortlist this week.
It is over a month now since Hammers News reported that contact had been made with Aaron Ramsdale’s camp.
The England glovesman has a £20 million relegation clause in his Southampton contract.
Yet, St Mary’s owner Dragan Solak has been at pains to point out that Ramsdale ‘loves’ life at Southampton, and he was certainly all smiles as he returned for pre-season training this week.
As for a certain USA-born Japan international, Hammers News have been informed that Parma want at least £30 million for Zion Suzuki. The Serie A club’s straight-talking CEO, Federico Cherubini, has also made it pretty clear that a goalkeeper who rejected Manchester United is not for sale.
West Ham United might not encounter quite so much resistance, though, if they opt to step up their alleged interest in Werder Bremen’s Michael Zetterer.
Michael Zetterer faces Werder Bremen exit as West Ham United eye goalkeeper targets
A few days shy of his 30th birthday, Zetterer feels like a man stuck at a crossroads.
Werder Bremen’s number one endured a mixed campaign last time out. Former coach Ole Werner insisted in May that Zetterer would retain the jersey for the foreseeable future but, since then, the highly-rated tactician has departed for RB Leipzig.
And Werner’s successor, Horst Steffen, is not quite so bullish.
As Sport BILD report that West Ham have added Zetterer to a shortlist which already includes Ramsdale, Suzuki, Mads Hermansen and fellow Bundesliga shot-stopper Noah Atubolu of Freiburg, Steffen feels he is in no position to offer any guarantees.
Not with the talented Mio Backhaus breathing down Zetterer’s neck.
“We’ll see what happens in training sessions,” Steffen tells reporters. “‘Zetti’ has a starting role here, which he deserves. And with Mio, we also know that he’s a great candidate with great talent.
“Give me the time to evaluate and see what happens.”
Bundesliga outfit must raise £6.5m and Zetterer fits Graham Potter’s gameplan
Peter Niemeyer, the head of first team football at the Weser Stadion, adds to the uncertainty in conversation with BILD
“Everyone has the chance to show what they can do, especially with a new coach,” Niemeyer says. “The impressions in training are important. Everyone has the chance to show what they can do. This is especially true for a new coach.
“Zetti has earned the status of number one, and therefore there is a basic trust in him. But behind him there is Mio, a highly talented man who wants to take the next step.”
According to reports, Werder Bremen need to raise funds before they can make any more signings this summer. It is not just West Ham – still awaiting their first new face of the window – who find themselves stuck in the mud.
Werder are under pressure to bring in around £6.5 million. If West Ham were to make a bid in such a region for Zetterer, then, one suspects it would garner plenty of consideration.
Like Suzuki and Ramsdale, Zetterer is a goalkeeper renowned for his excellent distribution skills.
Graham Potter ideally wants a number one who can start attacks at the other end as well as prevent goals in his own net. Zetterer ticks that box, albeit he maybe lacks the excitement factor of a young, improving talent with ‘world-class’ potential like Zion Suzuki.
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