West Ham United’s despised Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur hit the jackpot when they brought Micky van de Ven to North London during the summer of 2023.
Elite left-footed central defenders certainly don’t grow on trees, after all.
And when you add Van de Ven’s extreme speed, his superb defensive instincts and his brilliant ball-playing to those southpaw tendencies, Tottenham managed to snap up one of the most unique, high-potential centre-halves on the planet to the tune of just £34 million.
West Ham United, in contrast, find themselves stuck with a Nayef Aguerd-shaped problem.
To think, Aguerd joined the Hammers for just £4 million less than Tottenham paid to bring in Van de Ven from Wolfsburg. It almost goes without saying that the former has not come close to equalling the success of the latter in English football.
After Real Sociedad decided against signing Aguerd permanently following an injury-hit loan spell in La Liga, the Morocco international is desperate to force his way out of the London Stadium. Preferably, before pre-season begins.
But, once Aguerd’s eventual departure frees up some much-needed transfer funds and allows Graham Potter to start rebuilding his roster, could West Ham find their own answer to the aforementioned Micky van de Ven?
With Turkish publication Fotomac reporting that the £25 million-rated Jayden Oosterwolde is still on West Ham’s radar, the similarities between the Feyenoord speedster and Tottenham’s Europa League final hero have not gone unnoticed.
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West Ham United target Jayden Oosterwolde likened to Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven
The first thing fans tend to notice about Jayden Oosterwolde is that the Fenerbahce ace is a footballer with pace bordering on the ridiculous.
While Van de Ven has been clocked as the quickest player to grace the Premier League since records began, Breaking the Lines describe Oosterwolde as a ‘multifaceted threat in defence’ due to his combination of ‘electric speed’ and the fearsome physicality provided by his towering 6ft 4in frame.
He broke through as a rampaging left-back in the Eredivisie with FC Twente. Oosterwolde has also been utilised as a centre-half, where his formidable recovery pace and his ‘very good duel-winning capabilities’ come to the fore.
“He is an effective, powerful ball-carrier who strides forward with conviction and speed,” Breaking the Lines add of a versatile, uber-athletic footballer, the kind of which West Ham’s backline is badly lacking.
“He’s a good dribbler with quick feet for someone this tall.”
Daniel Peperkamp, co-host of the Voetbal Primeur podcast, also credits one Jose Mourinho with helping a 24-year-old Oosterwolde force his way onto the radars of West Ham, Newcastle and Napoli while over in Turkey.
“He has really developed a lot under Mourinho. A warrior. Big, fast, powerful,” Peperkamp says. “A Micky van de Ven type [of defender].”
Emerson Palmieri could join Lazio while Roma target Nayef Aguerd
As with Quilindschy Hartman – the former West Ham target is joining Burnley in a £10 million deal from Feyenoord – concerns will arise over Oosterwolde’s injury record.
The Zwolle-born former Parma ace missed most of last season with a cruciate ligament rupture. If reports are true and Fenerbahce value him at £25 million, West Ham would be risking a sizeable chunk of their summer budget on a footballer who hasn’t played a single league match since October 2024.
While Aguerd is still expected to leave this summer – Roma are reportedly outbidding Italian rivals Juventus as they look to secure an agreement in the region of £15 million – Emerson Palmieri could also be on his way to Serie A.
West Ham’s only other senior left-back apart from teenager Ollie Scarles is reportedly in line for a reunion with his former Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri at Lazio.