West Ham United have been handed further encouragement as they reportedly line up a January deal for Koln misfit and former Middlesbrough defender Rav van den Berg, with a £13 million fee mooted.

Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman were in imperious form as the Hammers beat Championship leaders Swansea City away from home on Saturday. Thus, cutting the gap to a single point and securing successive clean sheets for the first time since April.

Hammers News can reveal that Chelsea’s forgotten man Axel Disasi would be welcomed back with open arms. The Frenchman has endured a tough start to his latest loan spell, this time with Crystal Palace.

Reports in Germany, though, claim that West Ham are lining up a move for Rav van den Berg in the meantime. Cologne-based publication Express believe that the Londoners have plans to make a ‘concrete offer’. A fee of £13 million has been mooted for a defender who played 66 times for Middlesbrough between 2023 and 2025.

West Ham United have a very good shot at Koln’s Rav van den Berg

Now, Koln’s sporting director, Thomas Kessler, has told Bild that a solution may be sought if Van den Berg’s situation does not change. He has not played a single minute of Koln’s six Bundesliga matches so far, and was left out of the squad entirely before a recent muscle problem.

“We are in regular contact with Rav and his representatives, and are of course aware that his current situation is not satisfactory for him,” Kessler says. “We made a conscious decision to sign him last summer because we are convinced of his potential and his sporting qualities. Nothing has changed in that regard.

“Naturally, this transfer was accompanied by the expectation that he would play an important role for us and continue to develop athletically.

“So far, things haven’t gone as planned for either side. But we shouldn’t make any hasty decisions after just a few matchdays. Right now, the focus is on Rav continuing to work on himself, making himself available in training, and taking his opportunities.

“If his sporting situation doesn’t fundamentally change by the winter, we will, of course, sit down with him and his agency and openly discuss what the best course of action is for everyone involved.”

Former Middlesbrough man could return to England for £13m

Koln coach Rene Wagner has already confirmed that Van den Berg, a former Dutch Under-21 international, is only his fourth-choice centre-back. A decision that has left the one-time PEC Zwolle youngster ‘disappointed’, to quote Kessler.

“What’s crucial is how he deals with it,” adds the director, refusing to give up the ghost just yet with Van den Berg. “We remain convinced of his qualities. Now it’s up to him to show every day in training that he’s ready to face this competition and seize his opportunity. That’s competitive sport.”

While Kessler is hoping for a turnaround between now and the New Year, Van den Berg certainly seems far more attainable than Disasi. Affordable too.

BILD add that an initial loan deal is a possibility, a year-and-a-half after Koln forked out around £7 million to buy him from Middlesbrough.