West Ham United have placed Galatasaray midfielder Kerem Akturkoglu among their list of midfielder targets which surely now means Pablo Fornals could be ready to quit the club in January.
The 24-year-old offensive midfielder is reportedly a target for the Hammers, Tottenham, and Arsenal, according to the Turkish news outlet Daily Sabah (10 October).
The most notable goal scored by Akturkoglu, who is reportedly being closely watched by English clubs, came against Manchester United in the Champions League last week in a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.
The Galatasaray maestro has been in superb form this season registering five goals and six assists from 16 games in all competitions already making him one of Turkey’s hottest footballing properties, and it’s no wonder why West Ham are joined by Tottenham and Arsenal for his signature.
The report by T24 read: “Tottenham Hotspur’s successful coach Ange Postecoglou follows Kerem Akturkoglu closely.
“Arsenal scouts also watched Kerem Akturkoglu in the Manchester United match.
“The player for the national football team is also regarded as a potential midfield option for West Ham United.”
Gala won’t be compelled to cash in on the adaptable attacker unless their valuation is fully satisfied in January or later because he is under contract until 2026.
Throughout this season, Akturkoglu, who has 22 senior caps for Turkey, has mostly been used on the left side of offensive midfield [WhoScored], which is not exactly a position that West Ham is strong in. Akturkoglu can also play right behind the striker.
Pablo Fornals’s present contract at the London Stadium expires this summer, therefore it makes sense for the Hammers to begin making plans in case he decides to go, as is widely expected.
According to reports, Fornals turned down the opportunity to sign a new contract at the London Stadium (Sean Whetstone, September 14). The Spaniard has played like he knows he won’t be with the team for very long in recent weeks.
On September 26, El Sevillista, a Spanish news site, revealed that Sevilla, a Champions League team, was hoping that West Ham United would accept a “negligible” bid for the Spanish international so they could “get some profitability” and keep him from leaving on a free transfer.
According to the source, Sevilla is making headway with their January preparations and has prioritised Fornals over all other players in an effort to strengthen their team and secure a spot in Europe.
Due to his little playing time this season, Fornals may be prepared to leave the team in January, when his contract will only be six months remaining. This is because of his current situation in the squad.
Then, West Ham United—who might already have a successor in Akturkoglu—can secure some much-needed transfer windfall to finance the deal.
In other West Ham news, analyst Darren Bent thinks one of the Hammers’ players is talented enough to start for Manchester United.
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