West Ham have turned their attentions to a little-known Scandinavian duo as the scouting of Tim Steidten and his team kicks in.
West Ham are taking a scattergun to the summer transfer market.
At least that’s how it appears given the volume of players being linked with moves to the London Stadium.
There was a tidal wave of transfer activity on Friday with no fewer than 11 players reportedly in West Ham’s sights in a single day.
The rumour mill shows no sign of abating either.
Now it seems the scattergun is being pointed at two new names on the list of targets compiled by technical director Tim Steidten and new Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui.
Steidten scouting starting to kick in for Hammers
The club is targeting another six or seven captures in addition to Luis Guilherme and Wes Foderingham.
That number may grow depending on whether a number of non-essential first team players can be sold to raise further transfer funds.
Lopetegui clearly wants to strengthen his defence and spine as he eyes a full-back, two centre-backs, a central midfielder and a new striker.
Now West Ham have turned attentions to a little-known Scandinavian duo as the club’s new scouting network kicks in.
When Steidten unveiled Guilherme recently he made no bones about West Ham’s transfer policy.
The German said he had promised the Brazilian teen that he and Lopetegui are building a new-look West Ham around young, versatile and exciting talent. Much like the Red Bull model.
West Ham turn attentions to little-known Scandinavian duo
It is a change that’s sorely needed given the Hammers ended last season with the second oldest squad in the Premier League.
Now it appears Steidten’s scouting network is kicking into gear with moves for two players the vast majority of West Ham fans – and journalists covering the club – have likely never heard of.
According to Aftonbladet, the Hammers want Djurgardens and Sweden left-back Samuel Dahl.
The 21-year-old has one cap for his national team but very little is known about him beyond that.
Even WhoScored, the world’s leading football data experts and analysts have little information on Dahl.
But the report from Sweden claims West Ham have scouted Dahl ‘for a long time’ and are ready to make a move.
While the Hammers prepare that bid, it’s claimed the club has seen a separate one rejected for Danish midfielder Morten Frendrup.
Much more is known about 23-year-old Frendrup, who plays for Genoa and can operate in both central midfield and at full-back.
Frendrup has been described as an all-rounder with relentless energy with excellent ball-winning abilities.
Genoa reject £20m West Ham bid for Frendrup
Likened to Brentford’s Christian Norgaard, it is also very notable that Frendrup can play at both left and right-back.
Frendrup made 36 starts for Genoa last season in Serie A, scoring twice and laying on five assists.
He looks every inch the ideal signing for West Ham, especially with utility player Ben Johnson on his way out.
The former Denmark Under 21 star is not a name necessarily on the radar for West Ham’s rivals. So this is another example of the scouting network dictating targets.
The problem is, according to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Genoa have rejected a £20m bid from West Ham.
And the Italians want ‘big money’ to consider selling.
“West Ham United made a €25m (£20m) bid which was rejected by Genoa for Morten Frendrup,” Tavolieri said.
“The Italian club considers the Danish midfielder not on the market, unless a big offer comes in, as of now.”