West Ham United are on the verge of making their first move of the season as they are edging closer towards the transfer of Badou N’Diaye from Osmanlispor. Barring the arrival of Pablo Zabaleta, the Hammers haven’t been so active in the transfer market.
N’Diaye has been linked with a number of English clubs but the Hammers are leading the race for the midfielder. The Senegalese star is valued at around £8.5m and West Ham are ready to match up their demands.
Osmanlispor general manager Ender Yurtguven has hinted they have struck a deal with an English club but refused to divulge the details of the deal. “We have an agreement with one team. N’Diaye will speak with them. This should be official by next week.”
The midfielder flourished after joining the Turkish side and his form in the middle of the pitch is likely to earn him a big-money move. His versatility to adopt in every condition has been his key to success for the last few years. He is equally fluent on the right wing and in the attacking midfield and has been likened to West Ham’s Argentine playmaker Manuel Lanzini.
N’Diaye has been demand and the Hammers lodged a bid in January when they were struggling heavily in the Premier League. But the Turkish side was very reluctant to let go of one of the most valuable players in the midst of the season, so the bid got rejected.
Currently, West Ham have a number of esteemed midfielders with the likes of Mark Noble, Cheikhou Kouyate and Pedro Obiang. But despite having a pretty strong contingent of midfielders Slaven Bilic had his problems last season as all the three midfielders had to spend significant time on the sidelines with injuries, leaving Bilic in a lurch.
The tireless midfielder is very strong, has an enormous passing range and can soak up the pressure. He is unlikely to be a regular starter but can be a viable backup option for Bilic. Crystal Palace and Sunderland are also interested in the player especially Palace manager Frank de Boer is believed to be an avid admirer of the player. N’Diaye is expected to undergo a medical very soon as both the clubs are working on every detail of the proposed deal.
Hammers have been very quiet in the transfer market so far but Bilic is expected to ring in a few changes especially bringing a goal scorer has been his top priority.
