According to Daily Mail, West Ham United are among clubs monitoring the development of Birger Meling. The Rosenborg BK left-back has been eyed as a potential target for the club, with the January transfer window just around the corner. Meling has already impressed the onlookers with his performances in his native Norway and has attracted the interest of a host of clubs across Europe.
Meling’s success at Rosenborg
A product of the Viking FK youth academy, Meling was once a part of the Middlesborough youth squad back in 2013. But, after failing to make a breakthrough in England, the defender moved to Stabaek in 2014. And by 2017, he secured a move to Norwegian giants Rosenborg for an undisclosed fee.
Meling quickly became a key member of the Rosenborg backline, notably making 20 league appearances in his debut campaign. During his ongoing three year spell at the club, the 24-year-old has already notched up 120 competitive appearances, which is quite impressive.
This season, in particular, Meling has been involved in over 1,000 minutes of competitive football – making him one of the most ever-present figures in the current Rosenborg side. His performances also helped him become a member of the Norwegian national team, though he hasn’t featured in the starting lineup, of late.
Should West Ham sign Meling?
Meling would be a welcome addition to the West Ham team that has lacked quality at the back this season. The left-back, Arthur Masuaku, in particular, has often appeared lacking during defensive phases, allowing attackers to make runs in behind the defence easily. His marking hasn’t been top-notch either. As a result, the Hammers have already conceded 17 goals.
Manuel Pellegrini has appeared reluctant to make Aaron Cresswell a first-team regular due to his inconsistency. And that’s where Meling could come into the fray.
The Norwegian is a quality fullback, who can provide technical superiority on the left flank. His ability to move up and down the pitch coupled with his defensive work-rate would make him a tailor-made fit for Pellegrini’s pragmatic style of play. Not to mention, he is also capable of providing the width into the attack, which often becomes useful when dominating possession.
Meling could be utilised as an alternative to both Masuaku and Cresswell, and at the age of 24, he could turn out to be a smart long-term investment for West Ham.
