West Ham United look to have beaten rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the teenager’s signing.
West Ham United have agreed a deal to sign Wolfsburg’s Murat Saglam from next summer, the Times reports.
The Turkish midfielder is out of contract at the end of this season, and is also said to have interested Tottenham Hotspur.
However, West Ham have reportedly moved quick to secure the services of Saglam, in what is seen as a show of support from the Hammers’ board to under-fire manager Slaven Bilic.
It is claimed the Croatian urged his employers to sign the 18-year-old after hearing of Tottenham’s interest.
“Murat is quite a talented player, a modern offensive midfielder,” Saglam’s agent told Aksam last week, as reported by HITC Sport at the time.
“Tottenham especially are showing very keen interest.”
Saglam is yet to feature for Wolfsburg’s first team, but is said to have impressed scouts with his performances for Turkey’s under-19s.
West Ham reportedly held talks with Bilic at the start of the week, after Saturday’s 5-1 defeat to Arsenal left them a point and a place outside of the Premier League’s bottom three.
Though his position is not thought to be in any immediate danger, the failure to take advantage of favourable fixtures against Burnley, Hull and Swansea this month, could seal the former Hammers defender’s fate.
Where is the best place for Saglam’s development – the London Stadium or White Hart Lane?
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