West Ham can strike gold with Charles De Ketelaere | OneFootball

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Football FanCast

·14 October 2021

West Ham can strike gold with Charles De Ketelaere

Article image:West Ham can strike gold with Charles De Ketelaere

West Ham are among the teams linked with a move for Belgium wonderkid Charles De Ketelaere…

What’s the word?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Irons are monitoring the 20-year-old attacker ahead of a potential move, though they are not the only ones, with Premier League rivals Everton also keen.


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Serie A giants AC Milan and Napoli are also courted with interest in the Club Brugge sensation.

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Earlier in the summer, Football Transfers suggested that the Belgian outfit would only be prepared to part with him for a fee in the region of €25m (£22m).

He has since picked up his second cap and first goal for his national side, whilst his form has continued domestically, so it remains to be seen if there has been an increase on that figure.

Star of the future

The £22.5m-rated dynamo is an intriguing prospect and one that is certainly going to have a big career in the game, going by what those have said around him.

Standing at a towering 6 foot 4 inches, De Ketelaere is capable of playing upfront, out on the flanks, in the no.10 and much deeper in midfield. It’s this sort of versatility and physical presence that should have David Moyes and co drooling.

“His versatility is a huge asset. He is complete, with a mix of physical and technical qualities,” legendary Club Brugge midfielder Gert Verheyen explained to Het Nieuwsblad (via Goal).

Despite being a titan, he has been likened to Roberto Firmino as a potential ‘false nine’ as he continues to search for his best position on the pitch but given the Hammers’ need for a new striker, it’s that role where he could find his feet.

Last season saw him find the net only five times in all competitions but he also provided eight assists, and he’s well on course to surpass such returns this time around, having delivered four goals and three assists, as per Transfermarkt.

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Article image:West Ham can strike gold with Charles De Ketelaere

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He may only be 20 but the Brugge star is already nearing 100 senior appearances in Belgium, where he has been backed to stay by talkSPORT’s European football expert Andy Brassell.

“He’s got loads of potential,” Brassell said on Hawksbee and Jacobs. “I’m really interested to see what he can do for the rest of the Champions League. The move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs is too soon. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, of course.”

Well, if a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs is too soon, then perhaps a move to the London Stadium would make sense, with the Hammers on the way up after qualifying for the Europa League this term.

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