West Ham have just missed their chance to sign ‘fantastic’ 27-goal midfielder for only £8.5m

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Another year, another summer transfer window in the Premier League, and another much-needed overhaul of a key department in West Ham United’s squad.

If The Hammers felt that they could fix their midfield issues by bringing in Guido Rodriguez and Carlos Soler, while welcoming James Ward-Prowse back from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, it seems they were very much mistaken.

Some footballers just are not cut out for the Premier League.

And while World Cup winner Guido Rodriguez arrived at the London Stadium with a fine CV and a proven track record in La Liga, it became pretty clear from the first whistle that the pace of English football would be too much to handle.

Guido Rodriguez is in talks over a return to Argentina with River Plate. His most recent Premier League start came during January’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. The third time he was removed from the firing line even before the second half got underway.

West Ham will not sign Paris Saint-Germain loanee Carlos Soler on a permanent basis, meanwhile. Another high-profile, big-name acquisition. And another underperforming, under-delivering addition to add to Tim Steidten’s growing collection.

As for Ward-Prowse, Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion rather summed up how things have gone for him of late. Plenty of endeavour, but barely even a hint of influence.

Now, Eredivisie sensation Sem Steijn could have gone some way to changing West Ham United’s fortunes in the centre of the park, but no longer. Not with the FC Twente talisman having completed his summer switch to Dutch rivals Feyenoord.

West Ham United target Sem Steijn swaps Twente for Feyenoord

TBR Football reported in April that AFC Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Wolves – in addition to West Ham – had watched Sem Steijn in action.

One of the most prolific young midfielders in Europe, if West Ham are crying out for some energy, intensity, forward-running and a bonafide goal threat in the centre of the park, then Steijn felt like a potentially inspired acquisition.

Providing, of course, he could handle the substantial step up from the Eredivisie to the Premier League. His record, though, speaks for itself. And while the league may change, the dimensions of the goal posts don’t.

Steijn scored 19 times during an impressive breakthrough season in 2023/24. The son of former Ajax coach Maurice Steijn has gone stratospheric since then. No fewer than 27 goals have been netted this term.

Steijn – who appears to have added curling free-kicks, overhead volleys and crashing headers to his repertoire – is currently nine clear at the top of the scoring charts. As such, he is destined to join the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Luis Suarez, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Dusan Tadic in claiming the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot award.

Speculation over his future has understandably dominated the Dutch press. But, with Feyenoord now confirming that the West Ham target will move to Rotterdam over the summer, Steijn’s fate has finally been sealed.

“Feyenoord and FC Twente have reached an agreement on the summer transfer of Sem Steijn,” reads a statement on the club’s official website. “The 23-year-old attacking midfielder will soon sign a four-year contract with Feyenoord, which will keep him at De Kuip until mid-2029.”

Steijn a bargain at £8.5m as he earns Klaas-Jan Huntelaar comparisons

Well, they say it will keep him at De Kuip until 2029.

Chances are that, if Steijn continues to find the net at such a remarkable rate, he will be plying his trade in one of Europe’s major leagues before long. The former ADO Den Haag man is certainly a player West Ham would be advised keeping a close eye upon over the coming months.

“He is always in the right place and has a fantastic finish, a bit like Huntelaar had,” former Dutch international Theo Janssen tells Ziggo Sport, likening Steijn to some of the finest goalscoring midfielders in recent Eredivisie history.

“Such players don’t care where you put him. He will always make the difference in goals.

“Davy Klaassen had that in his time at Ajax. Donny van de Beek too, Guus Til. Those are players who are always on the move.”

Feyenoord are paying a club-record fee of £8.5 million. One wonders if West Ham – given their troubles in the centre of the park – may rue not taking a punt of their own before Robin van Persie’s side nipped in.

Especially considering that, if Steijn threatens to break the 30-goal barrier again next term, his market value will sky-rocket.