West Ham United wanted Calvin Bassey but have missed out on a deal with Ajax now set to secure the Rangers defender’s signature.
The Hammers have already landed one left-sided defender this summer with Nayef Aguerd arriving from Rennes.
Yet West Ham may also fancy signing a left back though, with a natural heir to Aaron Cresswell needed for the years to come.
There haven’t been many rumours in that regard, but it looks like West Ham have just missed out on a potential signing.
West Ham United wanted Calvin Bassey
The Athletic report that West Ham were interested in signing Rangers defender Calvin Bassey.
Aston Villa as well as Brighton and Hove Albion were also keen on Bassey whilst there have been claims that Arsenal fancy him too.
Yet all of those clubs are set to miss out because Bassey is leaving Rangers for a big move to Amsterdam.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Ajax will secure a €25million (£23million) deal to sign Bassey with a long-term contract now in place.
Ajax have picked out Bassey as the ideal replacement for Lisandro Martinez, who has today agreed to join Manchester United.
Martinez has played as a left back or left-sided centre back for Ajax and Bassey has played in those roles for Rangers too.
West Ham may have seen Bassey as a left back for the future but it’s Ajax who have come up with the cash to tempt Rangers into selling.
Nigerian international Bassey rose to prominence during Rangers’ run to the Europa League final last season and has attracted major interest.
Former Scotland international Christophe Berra has been quoted as saying that Bassey looks like ‘the next Van Dijk’ in terms of him being a ‘man mountain’.
Bassey is strong, quick, has shown that his reading of the game is developing well and can play out from the back, possessing great technique alongside his athletic abilities.
You can see why West Ham would have wanted to sign him, but a move to East London won’t be happening this summer.
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