West Ham United spent the summer exploring new midfield options. They wanted to strengthen the squad after an inconsistent domestic campaign. Their interest in several players, including Mateo Kovacic, showed their determination to refresh the centre of the pitch.
During that search, the club’s recruitment team closely watched Ajax’s young midfielder Kenneth Taylor. Scouts across Europe talked about his name with growing interest. According to a report from ESPN NL, West Ham made serious enquiries but hit a wall when Ajax refused to sell.
West Ham failed to sign Kenneth Taylor in the summer transfer window
Taylor, a regular in Ajax’s midfield, believed he had an understanding with the club that he could leave in the summer. However, Ajax’s situation changed quickly. The Dutch side struggled in the Eredivisie and in Europe. That forced the board to rethink player sales.
Taylor’s representatives met Ajax’s technical director, Alex Kroes, to discuss the situation, but Ajax demanded a fee that West Ham rejected as unreasonable. The English club decided not to stretch their budget after already spending heavily on Carlos Fernandes and Adama Magassa for a combined £50 million. Taylor soon realised his hopes of moving abroad had faded before they could properly develop.
Taylor’s growing frustration and the January crossroads
Now, as the winter transfer window approaches, the story grows again. Taylor feels frustrated with Ajax after the club broke promises about his transfer. The Dutch midfielder’s patience runs out as Ajax’s problems deepen.
The team sits mid-table in the league and struggles at the bottom of their Champions League group. Those struggles might push Ajax to sell key players to raise funds and rebuild the team.
West Ham face a tricky situation. They added new players since the summer, but their uneven league form keeps the idea of another midfield signing alive. They continue to monitor Taylor’s situation while discussing Endrick’s potential move with Real Madrid.
However, past issues still hang over the deal. Ajax demanded around £30 million last summer, and that price pushed West Ham away. Wolverhampton Wanderers entered the chase too, but Taylor reportedly refuses to consider a move there.
If Ajax lower their price in January, the 23-year-old might finally get the move he wants. Still, everything depends on how both clubs perform in the next few weeks. From this view, the transfer looks possible but uncertain. West Ham may return for Taylor only if Ajax show more flexibility over his fee.
