West Ham have £13m Belgian bun in the oven if Kalvin Phillips doesn’t sign permanently in summer after Mandela Keita claim

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West Ham have a £13m Belgian bun in the oven if Kalvin Phillips doesn’t sign permanently in the summer after a claim about Mandela Keita.

West Ham are reportedly on the verge of completing the loan signing of Kalvin Phillips from Man City.

It was claimed yesterday that Phillips is ‘happy’ to join West Ham and the deal will be announced ‘shortly’.

According to reports, though, the move will be a straight loan.

If that is the case and Phillips shines at the London Stadium then David Moyes may be left disappointed if he cannot convert that into permanent move.

But the Hammers have an excellent contingency plan in place according to a new report from across The Channel.

Because West Ham have a £13m Belgian bun in the oven if Phillips doesn’t sign permanently in the summer after a Mandela Keita claim.

According to Nieuwsblad, the Hammers have been scouting Antwerp’s 21-year-old defensive midfield ace Mandela.

Tim Steidten and co liked what they have been seeing according to the report.

So much so West Ham are “willing to meet his £13m asking price” with a view to a summer move.

Mandela, who won his first senior Belgium cap earlier this season, is a powerful, quick defensive midfielder with bags of potential.

“West Ham, sixth in the Premier League, has Mandela Keita (21) high on their list,” the report states.

“The English club sent a scout to Antwerp and obtained information from the player’s entourage… 

“Antwerp itself paid 7.8 million (Euro) last summer and would like to get at least double that for Keita. The Hammers are willing to go that far, but will wait and see if they decide to push through. There is time, because they want him with an eye to next season.”

It is great to see West Ham forward planning in the transfer market like this.

Mandela seems to have all the attributes needed to flourish in the Premier League.

Of course it would be a big step up. But it would take the edge off any disappointment should Phillips not join the Hammers full-time.

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