Report: Southampton and West Ham want Bundesliga speedster Nicolai Muller

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Nicolai Muller is a fan favourite at Hamburg but his Bundesliga future is in doubt amid interest from West Ham United and Southampton.

Hamburg remain the only club never to suffer relegation from the Bundesliga since it began in 1963. Though they came almighty close once again last season.

After twice being forced to secured their top flight status via the relegation play-off in the last four years, Marcus Gisdol’s side set the fans’ pulses racing again in 2016/17, only a last-gasp winner from Luca Waldschmidt against Wolfsburg on the final day of the Bundesliga season meaning they had escaped yet again.

However, if Nicolai Muller had been fit and available for the entire season, perhaps Hamburg could have enjoyed a relatively stress free end to the campaign. The dynamic winger missed 11 Bundesliga games in the second half of the 2016/17 season and his absence was clear as day.

Hamburg are desperate to keep Nicolai Muller

Often the bright spark behind every attacking move, Muller scored five and assisted six more in 22 league starts last season. He also contributed to 14 goals in 2015/16.

Therefore, Hamburg would be loath to lose the 29-year-old this summer. Though that is an increasing possibility with Bild claiming that both West Ham and Southampton are interested.

With only a year remaining on his contract, Hamburg are in a difficult situation with Bundesliga rivals Schalke and Wolfsburg also keen. The report adds that, while the former Mainz star could fetch a maximum of £9 million, they would rather hang onto him for one final season.

Worth the money

Though with West Ham and Southampton needing further attacking thrust, an approach would certainly be worthwhile.

Muller could provide the pace and directness that disappointing January signing Robert Snodgrass has failed to produce at the London Stadium so far. Furthermore, with beIN Sport claiming that The Hammers have accepted a £3.9 million bid from Galatasaray for the anaemic Sofiane Feghouli, Muller would be an astute replacement.

Sofiane Feghouli failed to live up to expectations

Southampton, too, need added speed in attack after the departure of Jay Rodriguez. The Saints failed to excite their fans on home turf last season but Muller would get bums off seats at St Mary’s.