---
title: "West Ham United: Transfer insider reveals Sven Botman approach"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-united-sven-botman-latest-irons-transfer-news-90min-david-moyes-january/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2021-12-19T14:45:14Z"
modified: "2021-12-19T14:45:14Z"
---

# West Ham United: Transfer insider reveals Sven Botman approach

**According to transfer ‘[insider](https://twitter.com/GraemeBailey?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor)‘ Graeme Bailey, writing for [90min](https://www.90min.com/posts/sven-botman-unsure-about-leaving-lille-in-january), West Ham United have set their sights on a fresh target as news emerges on Lille defender Sven Botman.**

### The Lowdown: West Ham in defensive crisis…

Injuries to both [Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10288835/West-Ham-David-Moyes-confirms-transfer-priority-new-defender-Zouma-Ogbonna-injuries.html) have prompted David Moyes to search for new centre-back signings in the looming January transfer window.

[West Ham latest updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates/)

Premier League trio James Tarkowksi, Nathan Ake and Nathaniel Phillips are the [most heavily linked](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/transfer-news/west-ham-january-transfer-window-22498429) with a move to the London Stadium as things stand, but that hasn’t stopped other names from entering the fray.

Recently, a report from Italy claimed that West Ham could set their sights on Torino powerhouse Gleison Bremer, Juventus outcast Daniele Rugani or Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic ([Calciomercato](https://www.calciomercato.it/2021/12/08/calciomercato-juventus-inter-bremer-milenkovic-west-ham-milan/)).

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Now, as per [90min](https://www.90min.com/posts/sven-botman-unsure-about-leaving-lille-in-january), it appears that Moyes and transfer chief Rob Newman have another new name on the agenda.

### The Latest: Transfer insider breaks news…

According to transfer [insider](https://twitter.com/GraemeBailey?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) Bailey, writing for [90min](https://www.90min.com/posts/sven-botman-unsure-about-leaving-lille-in-january), West Ham have made a pre-January approach to sign Ligue 1 sensation Botman in the form of an enquiry.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375613″\]

It is believed that the 21-year-old is attracting plenty of interest, especially from Newcastle who have made him a top target, while the Dutchman’s agents have also made known his possible availability.

### The Verdict: Get it done…

Lille have apparently slapped a price tag of around €25m-€30m (£21.2m-£25.4m) on their star defender (La Gazzetta via [Milan News](https://www.milannews.it/primo-piano/gazzetta-milan-il-gigante-botman-per-sostituire-kjaer-il-lille-spara-alto-ecco-la-strategia-rossonera-434548)), and for that price he would be an absolute steal.

According to journalist Duncan Castles, team-mate and former Irons defender Jose Fonte is a huge fan, apparently calling Botman a ‘machine’ and a man ‘who doesn’t make mistakes’ behind the scenes (via [Planet Football](https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/all-you-need-to-know-about-sven-botman-the-cb-scouted-by-liverpool/)).

The Dutchman has also averaged an impressive [4.6 clearances per 90](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/379732/Show/Sven-Botman) in the French top flight this season, with only Kurt Zouma bettering those numbers for West Ham in the Premier League ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham)).

Botman is also a more accurate passer of the ball out from defence than [any of Moyes’ current crop](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham), finding his teammates [85.8% of the time,](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/379732/Show/Sven-Botman)highlighting a degree of composure at such a young age.

His ceiling appears to be vast, with a maximum cost of £25.4m looking like an absolute steal.

***In other news: Newman also exploring offer to sign ‘underrated’ £28.8m ace who’s now keen to join West Ham, find out more [here.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-rumours/west-ham-united-rob-newman-nathan-ake-offer-irons-transfer-news-latest-rumours-david-moyes/)***