Amid all the speculation surrounding centre-forwards and goalkeepers at the Premier League outfit, it should not be forgotten that West Ham United are also a club in dire need of a left-back.
Aaron Cresswell brought the curtain down on a decade’s worth of loyal service at the end of last season.
And with West Ham expected to sell Emerson Palmieri, there is a real chance that July will arrive with teenage Ollie Scarles the only senior left-back at Graham Potter’s disposal.
Emerson could reunite with former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri. Serie A giants Lazio are keen on a one-time Roma favourite.
So while Scarles is keen to follow in Cresswell’s path at West Ham United, the 19-year-old probably didn’t expect to find himself rising quite so rapidly up the pecking order.
Now, had Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus or Nayef Aguerd sealed big-money departures from the London Stadium during the first few weeks of the summer, perhaps the Hammers would now be fighting tooth and nail with Burnley for the signature of Quilindschy Hartman.
As it is, while West Ham are waiting for sales to occur before speeding up their pursuit of any new signings, one of the finest young left-backs on the market looks destined to pass Potter and co by.
Photo by Hans van der Valk/BSR Agency/Getty ImagesWest Ham United stuck as Burnley strike Quilindschy Hartman deal with Feyenoord
Quilindschy Hartman was linked with West Ham back in 2023, shortly after winning the Eredivisie title alongside now-Liverpool boss Arne Slot at Feyenoord.
Two years on, while West Ham’s pursestrings remain firmly drawn, Rotterdam-based publication 1908 are reporting that Burnley have reached an agreement with Feyenoord.
Interestingly, Burnley were also heavily linked during the summer of 2023.
In the two years since then, the Clarets have been relegated to the Championship and promoted back to the Premier League, but they are still far better placed than top-flight stalwarts West Ham to secure a reported £10 million deal for the four-time Dutch international.
Former Eredivisie champion Hartman saw Chelsea move collapse
There is, of course, a major element of risk involved in Hartman’s impending switch to Turf Moor.
The 23-year-old only recently returned to full fitness after missing ten months of action with a serious knee injury. Hartman made just eight Eredivisie starts in the whole of last season.
On the other hand, with Feyenoord ready to sell for just £10 million due to his contract situation, Hartman feels like a pretty affordable punt even considering the risks.
“I think it wasn’t an easy situation for him,” De Kuip director Dennis te Kloese said recently of a man who saw a potential switch to Chelsea fall through thanks to that aforementioned knee injury.
“He got a lot of attention last year, also from foreign clubs. Then, he got a serious injury. You don’t just come back from that.
“Last year, [Chelsea’s interest] was of course a story that was discussed. Ultimately, that changed with that injury. He is an incredibly valued force with us and as a person I also value him very much.
But he has to reach a certain level to take that next step and then possibly play himself into the spotlight with the Oranje [the Dutch national team] again.”