West Ham have been heavily linked with an on-off move for Dutch midfield powerhouse Ezechiel Banzuzi and the deal is still alive.
After signing a striker, West Ham’s big priority in the winter window was to bring in a new midfielder.
Graham Potter quickly identified the Hammers midfield as a major problem after being appointed.
Slow, immobile and lacking in power and dynamism, West Ham’s midfield has not offered enough protection to the back four.
It has also failed to provide much by way of guile for the forward line.
It is an incoherent mix of players with little thought from Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui as to whether they would complement one another.
Simply put, West Ham have failed miserably to replace Declan Rice. Indeed one of his successors, James Ward-Prowse, was even loaned out one season after signing for £30m.
So there has been understandable excitement building among West Ham fans about a move for Ezechiel Banzuzi.
It has been reported on several occasions that the 19-year-old OH Leuven midfielder has been close to joining the Hammers this month.
Banzuzi certainly seems to have all the attributes West Ham are missing.
The Hammers did submit a formal offer for Banzuzi earlier in the window.
West Ham’s Banzuzi hopes still alive
But a deal has not been struck amid rival interest from Monaco and Lyon.
Fabrizio Romano sparked fresh hope the Banzuzi move may be on before Monday’s 11pm deadline.
The transfer reporter revealed yesterday that West Ham are still working on a possible midfielder signing.
And crucially he stated it would not be either of Chelsea duo Carney Chukwuemeka or Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Liverpool’s Tyler Morton is another who has been linked with the Hammers.
It emerged over the weekend that a deal for Banzuzi in the winter window was looking increasingly unlikely.
But West Ham’s Banzuzi move is still alive after a shock midfielder development.
Surprise news emerged overnight that West Ham and Nottingham Forest have agreed to terminate the loan of Ward-Prowse.
It was a shock because back on January 2nd Hammers News exclusively reported West Ham’s confirmation there was no recall option on Ward-Prowse’s loan.
David Ornstein reported Ward-Prowse would be returning to West Ham overnight.
He originally stated that the Hammers have activated a recall option on the loan. But he has since corrected that information – stating, as we revealed at the start of the window, there was in fact no recall option.
It means West Ham and Forest have agreed to rip up the deal, saving Forest money on wages and a portion of the loan fee due to the Hammers.
Banzuzi deal not dead long-term despite shock development
The club made it clear to Hammers News heading into the window that West Ham are close to its PSR limit for wages to turnover ratio.
The move for Evan Ferguson has not stretched that too much as the striker is only on £30k per week.
Taking Ward-Prowse’s wages back on in full will have, though. Especially after £155m worth of arrivals in the summer.
What Ward-Prowse’s return also means is that any move for Banzuzi before Monday’s deadline now looks highly unlikely.
That move is not dead, though.
According to a board source speaking to Sean Whetstone, his club didn’t want to sell this month.
But West Ham will be looking to sign him again in the summer window.
“Oud-Heverlee Leuven are refusing to let their 19 year old attacking midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi leave this winter transfer window,” Whetstone confirmed.
“West Ham are likely to try again this summer for the Belgian Pro League player who valued around €15m (£13m).”
It has been reported that Banzuzi is a key target highlighted by new head of recruitment Kyle Macauley via Potter before he was officially brought in from Chelsea.
Banzuzi is one of a series of hot prospect young players Macauley and Potter want in a major shift to West Ham’s recruitment philosophy.
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