If a report from Evening Standard is believed to be true, West Ham United have received a boost in pursuit of Ezechiel Banzuzi. The Hammers failed to secure his services in winter but are expected to return for the OH Leuven youngster who will be available for a fee of around £12.6m.
The 20-year-old Dutch youth international progressed through the academy ranks of VVGZ and NAC Breda before breaking into the latter’s first-team squad. He went on to make 59 appearances for the then Eerste Divisie outfit and helped them reach the promotion play-offs in successive seasons. Although they could not secure top-flight football, Banzuzi impressed enough to earn a €1.2m transfer to the Belgian Pro League side OH Leuven in the summer of 2023.
So far he has featured 70 times for OHL and scored and assisted 6 times each across competitions. The young midfield ace has exhibited his flexibility in the centre of the pitch thus cementing a starting status since plying his trade to Belgium a couple of summers ago. But his physicality and footwork are best utilized as a box-to-box option over a destructive defensive midfielder or an outright ‘number 10’.
Despite flourishing in Leuven colours, Banzuzi might explore a fresh opportunity in the summer. His current deal in Belgium expires next year and the club, therefore, would prefer to cash in on their prized asset rather than losing him for nothing in 2026.
The Dutchman was on the radar of half-a-dozen clubs. Monaco also entered into negotiations alongside the Irons and his current employers must be hoping for a bidding war to maximize the profit in the upcoming window. He has represented his nation at various youth levels, however, a move to one of Europe’s top leagues offers a better prospect of breaking into the Netherlands’ senior team in due time.
Why West Ham United Should Snap Him Up
West Ham United are heading towards a bottom-half finish in the Premier League. Graham Potter is doing his best to implement his philosophy and style of play, overcoming their disastrous run of results under former boss Julen Lopetegui. They roped in various midfield options in the recent past, but the majority of them would struggle to fit in the Englishman’s swift passing and pressing football.
Carlos Soler is likely to return to Paris St-Germain after failing to impress on loan. The future of Lucas Paquetá remains uncertain since facing allegations of breaching betting rules. Guido Rodriguez was roped in on a Bosman, but the Argentine has been a dreadful signing as he might be offloaded soon.
Edson Alvarez has not done enough to justify his £33m switch from Ajax. With 23 bookings and two red cards in 68 games, the Mexico skipper’s disciplinary issues have troubled the Hammers over the past one-and-a-half years. They need to look beyond Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse who are in their thirties, and the arrival of Banzuzi could be a breath of fresh air given his traits to fit in Potter’s system.
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