With the January transfer window now only a month-and-a-half away, this is usually the time of the year when clubs such as West Ham United start to sniff out potential bargain buys.
Hammers News have already reported that Nuno Espirito Santo wants an Adama Traore reunion at the London Stadium.
Nuno turned Traore into a Premier League powerhouse at Wolves. Now, with his contract at Fulham due to expire in the summer of 2025, West Ham United could land the former Spain international for a knock-down fee.
Though there is no indication of any interest in the following names – at least, not yet – the Hammers may quietly be tracking the situations of Vitaliy Mykolenko, Ruben Neves, Marcos Senesi, Harry Wilson, alongside one-time transfer target Harry Maguire.
Like Traore, that quintet are also due to be free-agents in eight months’ time.
And, in hindsight, Dutch reporter Martijn Krabbendam feels that Feyenoord probably should have sold Quinten Timber before the September deadline.
Hammers News have been informed that Nuno is a big fan of Dutch midfielder Timber. Having already shown an interest in taking the 2023 Eredivisie champion to Nottingham Forest, West Ham are likely to be near the front of the queue with Timber entering the final few months of his deal at De Kuip.
Photo by Hans van der Valk/BSR Agency/Getty ImagesMartijn Krabbendam gives West ham United hope in race for Feyenoord’s Quinten Timber
Chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey revealed on Thursday that Quinten Timber is on West Ham’s radar, but also that of numerous clubs across the continent. Borussia Dortmund had scouts on Europa League watch when Feyenoord took on Stuttgart last week, according to Sky Deutschland’s Patrick Berger.
Krabbendam offers no real indication as to where Timber could end up.
On Voetbal International’s Dick Voormekaar Podcast, though, the Dutch football expert can certainly envisage a world in which Feyenoord jump at the chance to cash in mid-season, especially if Oussama Targhalline and ex-Brighton ace Jakub Moder are able to fill the void.
“We’re going to have the Timber affair in the coming weeks,” Krabbendam says, predicting a prolonged spell of pre-January speculation. “He still hasn’t renewed his contract and is allowed to talk to clubs in January.
“Feyenoord won’t make a cent from him if he leaves on a free transfer. So, they could decide to sell him in the winter for any reasonable offer.
“Feyenoord would prefer to sell him in the winter, because then they’d get some money for him. If Moder and Targhalline are fit again soon, it’s possible. But as long as those guys are missing, it’s a risk to let Timber go now.”
FC Porto and Stuttgart have been linked alongside Borussia Dortmund
Krabbendam makes no mention of West Ham, instead highlighting on an FC Porto outfit he believes came ‘close’ to securing a deal last summer. Hammers News have now been informed that the Hammers may have an ace up their sleeve, though, in Quinten’s twin brother.
Jurrien, who plies his trade across London at Arsenal, is ‘pushing’ his sibling to make the move to England.
“Sky recently reported interest from Stuttgart, but they haven’t contacted Feyenoord yet. You could still list a hundred clubs where Timber is on the list. In principle, he’s interesting to all clubs,” Krabbendam adds.
“In hindsight, they should have [sold him] in the summer, of course. There was quite a bit of interest. I heard FC Porto was close to signing him. Everyone was talking about [Ajax’s Kenneth] Taylor, but apparently Timber was also really high on the list.
“But somehow, they couldn’t reach an agreement.”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot said Quinten could join Jurrien Timber at Arsenal
Timber was a key part of the Feyenoord side which claimed the Eredivisie title in 2023. Only their second domestic crown this side of the Millennium. Interestingly, the man who guided Liverpool to glory tipped Quinten to follow in Jurrien’s footsteps with a switch to the current Premier League leaders.
“If he continues to develop as he has, then his ceiling is extremely high because he has undergone great development over the past year. He is a special player,” Slot told Ziggo Sport in 2024, reflecting on a campaign in which the dynamic, elusive Timber scored eight times and provided a further nine assists from midfield.
“He has the strength and speed to create overloads. I think he has a very good mentality and is a good lad. [Quinten and Jurrien] are both very, very good. I don’t think it is ruled out that Quinten could also go to a club of [Arsenal’s] calibre.”
The Gunners appear out of the market for attacking midfielders now after signing Ebere Eze. The same cannot be said of West Ham, though.
“Quinten Timber is a fascinating option emerging for a number of clubs heading into 2026,” Bailey explains. “And West Ham are one of those looking.
“I am told his brother Jurrien is pushing him to come to England, even though he has a number of options around Europe.”
“Timber would be a very good fit for West Ham, but they might have to wait until the summer. Getting him in January will be very difficult. Getting any player to move to a relegation threatened side in the January window is difficult.”