Spurs and West Ham have both been linked with a Serie A star - but will they make a move, and would he improve either sides’ defence?
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You won’t find many fans of either Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United who would argue with the notion that their defence could do with a little work. Spurs may not have conceded too many goals but only five teams have allowed their opponents a greater volume of expected goals – and one of those are West Ham, who have conceded them in droves. Both teams could look for defensive reinforcements in the immediate future.
That’s the context which helps to make sense of a story in the Italian media which suggests that both teams are interested in striking a deal for Inter Milan centre-back Yann Bisseck. Gazzetta dello Sport claim that the 24-year-old has had his interest “piqued” by the possibility of a move to England, and he may offer the combination of quality and affordability that the two sides are looking for. But would he move the needle in North or East London, and how likely is it that a transfer takes place?
Why Spurs & West Ham may both be interested in Yann Bisseck
Bisseck, who made his first and thus far only appearance for the German national team this March, strikes an imposing figure at 6’4”, but he is far from an old-fashioned powerhouse defender – instead, he’s a technician suited to teams who want to play out swiftly from the back.
Very few defenders in Europe’s top leagues can match his passing range or precision, or his comfort with the ball at his feet. He’s capable of bringing the ball out from the back with driving runs or springing counter-attacks with accurate forward passes, and suits a team looking for defenders who join the midfield and play a role in the build-up when in possession.
That’s a more accurate description of Spurs than it is of West Ham, who are unlikely to take such a buccaneering attitude towards their defensive set-up under Nuno Espirito Santo, a coach who typically prefers to play a low block, but his ability to play long passes could still play into Santo’s counter-attacking style and his physicality and aerial presence would likely help with set pieces, an Achilles heel for the Hammers so far this season.
Defensively, Bisseck is now a centre-half who produces significant volumes of tackles, but he is strong in one-on-one situations when he needs to be (winning at least two-thirds of the time in such scenarios over the past two full seasons).
The drawback to Bisseck’s defending is his positional sense, which can be suspect, and his concentration. He may not defend aggressively in the traditional sense, but he does look for every opportunity to push upfield and deal with problems at their source, and that sometimes leaves gaps in behind, and there are moments in tighter marking situations in which he has provided room for opposing strikers that a savvier defender might have shut down.
A deep defensive line such as West Ham’s under Santo could mitigate his occasional errors of judgement and bring his strength and tackling quality to the fore. For Spurs, he might be vulnerable in positions higher upfield, but the trade-off is that his quality on the ball could benefit the attack significantly. Ultimately, signing Bisseck would be a calculated risk – that his positional errors and lapses of judgement cost less than his technical class and ball-playing skill brought to the team.
Will West Ham or Spurs make a bid for Bisseck in 2026?
Both teams were linked with Bisseck over the summer, with Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that West Ham had a bid of €25m (£22m) turned down by Inter – which, if nothing else, may give us a starting price should negotiations begin in earnest.
Ultimately, West Ham decided to look elsewhere and there are no suggestions that Spurs made a formal offer. It may be that the German was on a shortlist should Cristian Romero have left – which looked very likely for much of the summer transfer window – and that other position were prioritised when the Argentine stayed. Spurs’ defence has looked vulnerable since then, however, and their depth has not been entirely convincing.
West Ham’s change of manager would, on the surface, suggest that a bid for Bisseck is less likely – he is not the kind of defender that Santo seemed to be keen on at Wolves or at Nottingham Forest, while his quality in possession would have made him a more natural fit for Graham Potter’s methods before his dismissal.
Still, the Italian media believes that both teams are still interested, and that Bisseck himself is keen on a move to England. He has started just three of Inter’s 10 league matches so far this season and isn’t a regular starter, so the chance to battle his way into a different team’s starting eleven may well appeal, while his relatively limited usage at the San Siro may limit the price tag to an extent, even though he is contracted up until 2029 and has admirers within Inter’s hierarchy.
Gazzetta dello Sport’s reporting does not hint at whether a January bid is likely or whether this is a deal that would be more likely to take place next summer, when transfer funds are more plentiful – West Ham, in particular, are not likely to have significant amounts to spend due to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, and are likely to prioritise a central striker with any funds they do have access to.
Signing Bisseck would be a relatively high-risk, high-reward move and perhaps one that Spurs are in a better position to make if Thomas Frank is unconvinced by the likes of Kevin Danso or Kota Takai, who has been troubled by injury issues since signing for the club over the summer. On the surface, they are perhaps more likely to make this deal a reality – but the upside to Bisseck is high enough that several teams could easily be prepared to roll the dice if the price is right.