West Ham technical director Tim Steidten has launched a move for a star who played for Celtic U20s aged just 13.
West Ham are embarking on a major rebuild this summer after the appointment of Julen Lopetegui.
And the Hammers are doing it around ‘young, exciting’ stars.
That came from the horse’s mouth when technical director Tim Steidten unveiled Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme as West Ham’s first signing of the summer last week.
The 18-year-old signed for West Ham from Palmeiras for £25m. And Steidten revealed he has promised Guilherme he will be joined by a host of other up-and-coming stars in east London.
Hammers hunting next big things
West Ham are looking to make another seven signings across a host of positions.
That’s a necessity after David Moyes left Lopetegui with a squad of just 17 senior players.
West Ham’s transfer strategy is also perfectly clear based on the profile of player the Hammers are being linked with.
That being young, talented starlets aged between 18 and 25 for reasonable fees.
Now yet another name fitting that description can be added to the list it seems.
That’s as West Ham launch a move for a star who played for Celtic U20s aged just 13.
West Ham move for star who played for Celtic U20s aged just 13
Karamoko Dembele was one of the most talked about Celtic youngsters of the last decade.
Videos of the young attacker went viral and according to 67 Hail Hail, hopes were high Dembele could be the next big thing at Celtic.
Dembele did eventually graduate to the senior side by training under Brendan Rodgers.
But he failed to kick on despite being given his debut in 2019 by Neil Lennon. Dembele left Celtic in 2022, joining Ligue 1 side Brest on a free transfer.
Now he could be on his way back to the UK with West Ham.
Dembele actually played for Blackpool on loan last season scoring nine goals and laying on 14 assists in League Two.
But in an interview with L’Equipe, Brest’s Sporting Director Gregory Lorenzi confirmed the 21-year-old will leave the club this summer.
And his destination could be the London Stadium and the Premier League with West Ham.
Young and exciting new-look West Ham
According to HITC, the Hammers are among a number of clubs including Everton and Nottingham Forest who want to sign Dembele.
Lambeth-born Dembele played for England and Scotland at youth level.
The alleged West Ham target has been compared to the likes of Lionel Messi in the past.
He can play on either wing and is exactly the kind of profile of player that fits into Steidten’s strategy.
That comes with obvious risks.
But with the right senior players around the youngsters Steidten wants to sign, West Ham could build a seriously exciting side which can grow together over several years rather than constant chopping and changing every window.
Dembele does not even turn 22 until February 2025. While there is clearly a big step up from League Two to the Premier League, having an experienced manager like Lopetegui can help develop Dembele into a top talent.
Other clubs do it all the time with little known or unfancied young stars.
So why not West Ham?
You can check Dembele out in the video below.