West Ham Linked With Move For In-Demand Dutch Defender

Many Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for Dutch defender Sven Botman. West Ham United has now joined the race to sign the highly-rated center-back, with Newcastle United and Norwich City in the mix as well. Not to mention, West Ham needs depth in this position.

Botman plays for French side Lille, whom he helped to win the Ligue 1 title last season. He made a big first impression in his first season of French football and soon caught the attention of other clubs in Europe. The 21-year-old is expected to be on the move this summer due to his strong performances, and Serie A side Atalanta was initially interested in signing him.

Born on the outskirts of Amsterdam, Botman joined Ajax to develop his playing career. He made one appearance for the first team in a pre-season friendly, but he stayed with Ajax’s youth team and made his professional debut in 2018.

He spent the whole 2019/20 season on loan at SC Heerenveen and scored twice in 26 appearances. After the loan expired, he returned to Jong Ajax and soon joined Lille on a five-year deal, and he played alongside former West Ham player José Fonte.

He consistently demonstrates his defensive qualities and football intelligence against opposition attacks, often scanning situations for danger and applying pressure when it is needed. He has a calm demeanor about his game and rarely feels pressure to make passes or move the ball quickly. At 6’4″ tall, he has a good presence in the penalty box at both ends.

This allows him to head the ball at the opponent’s goal or head the ball away to safety. Moreover, he tends to head the ball directly to a teammate to start an attack. West Ham should seriously consider a move for Sven Botman before another club chases him down.

His threatening presence, high football IQ, and passing ability make him a good choice for a center-back. Botman is on the market for a move, the Premier League could be calling his name, and West Ham should be the ones to do it.