It is not only Premier League clubs altering their transfer plans to suit the whims of Financial Fair Play.
At a time in which Chelsea appear desperate to shove Trevoh Chalobah out the door, at a time in which Manchester United’s rebuild could be financed by Mason Greenwood’s departure to Marseille, West Ham may be about to benefit as another Euro giant looks to free themselves from that vice-like grip.
The Hammers have spent much of the summer scouring the market for right-backs.
Vladimir Coufal, while still a very reliable operator, is not getting any younger. He turns 32 in August. Ben Johnson has already departed, meanwhile, for Ipswich Town.
And with deals for Man United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters stalling, West Ham have wasted little time in slamming their foot on the accelerator with regards to their pursuit of one Noussair Mazraoui.
West Ham United near Noussair Mazraoui deal
According to BBC Sport, the Bayern Munich full-back is set to join for a fee that could rise to over £16 million. HITC understands that the terms of a deal have been agreed in principle.
While far from a disaster at the Allianz Arena, Mazraoui only started 26 Bundesliga games across two seasons.
His departure, meanwhile, helps offset the substantial fees paid to bring in Michael Olise, Joao Palhinha and Hiroki Ito, with Rennes winger Desire Doue another big-money acquisition Vincent Kompany’s side are keen to make.
“That makes a tonne of sense to me,” reporter Manuel Veth explains on the Talking Fussball podcast. “West Ham United are very interested in him.
“For Bayern, this would be a huge thing got FFP and balancing the books because ultimately they signed Mazraoui on a free transfer from Ajax.
“So any money coming in there would be a plus.”
The technically-gifted Mazraoui was a key part of that Ajax team which reached the semi-finals of the Champions League under Erik ten Hag in 2019.
Only time will tell, however, if the Morocco international can thrive in England unlike his former Ajax team-mates Donny Van de Beek, Rasmus Kristensen and Hakim Ziyech.
West Ham have, at least, enjoyed some success shopping at the Johan Cryuff Arena. Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez were big hits during David Moyes’ final campaign.
Bayern Munich ace heading to England for £16m
Veth’s Talking Fussball co-host Stefan Bienkowski has his doubts. He wonders if Mazraoui has the requisite physicality to cope with the bruising demands of English football.
“It makes a lot of sense (to sell him),” Bienkowski argues. “Mazraoui is such an interesting one. It hasn’t really worked out.
“He obviously joined the club in the wake of a very impressive performance for Morocco air the World Cup and I think everyone thought; ‘Wow, Bayern have just signed this outstanding wing-back.
“At times, Mazraoui has looked like that. But I think he’s really kind struggled from not being able to prove he is good at any one thing. He’s had performances where he’s able to kind of fall back on his great technical ability. He is a great pass of the ball. He can set up chances.
“But, as a dependable full-back, I just don’t think he was that for Bayern.
“I would actually be a little concerned for him in the Premier League because I would say, if there is one thing he has probably lacked, its physicality. I don’t think the Premier League will be any easier for him in that regard.”
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