Premier League duo West Ham United and Wolves have missed out on Niklas Stark as the free-agent centre-half signs a long-term deal with Bundesliga newcomers Werder Bremen, as reported by Kreis Zeitung.
Not content with snatching Germany U21 international Amos Pieper from under Southampton’s nose, Bremen are now repeating the trick with another homegrown defender running down his contract.
Hertha Berlin director Fredi Bobic confirmed back in April, amid interest from West Ham and Wolves, that Stark would not be offered the chance to extend his £30,000-a-week deal at the Olimpiastadion.
According to Sport1, Hammers boss David Moyes is a big fan of the 27-year-old, having held talks with Stark regarding a potential switch to the London Stadium before Christmas.
But, as of this weekend, Stark is a Werder Bremen player, the former Nurnburg man brought in on a free alongside fellow newcomer Pieper at the 2004 Bundesliga champions.
West Ham and Wolves miss out on Niklas Stark
“Niklas has been in our field of vision for a long time. Now, an opportunity has arisen to convince him of Werder and bring him to the Weser,” says Clemens Fritz, the club’s head of professional football and scouting.
“Niklas is a robust and technically good defensive player who has already experienced a lot in his career,” adds head coach Ole Werner.
“He can certainly help us immediately. It’s great that we were able to convince him of the sporting prospects at Werder.”
Wolves will have to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements, with Fernando Marcal and Romain Saiss both heading out the door.
West Ham remain in the market for a new centre-half too. Angelo Ogbonna has been out of action since autumn while Moyes is expected to cash in on the plateauing Issa Diop.
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“I had a good gut feeling about the move,” says Stark. “The club and everything around it gave me a good feeling.
“I spoke to (former Werder forward and ex-Hertha team-mate) Davie Selke. He raved about the whole thing here and said that it would be great if I did it.”
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