West Ham United will be able to sign January target Niklas Stark on a free transfer this summer after Hertha Berlin made the decision to let him go.
That’s according to Kicker, who report that Stark’s seven-year spell with the German club will ‘come to an end’ once the current campaign finishes.
They report that Hertha will ‘definitely not’ make an offer to extend their vice-captain’s contract beyond the end of this campaign as they want to get the player, who is one of the high-earners in the squad, off the payroll.
There is also a lack of faith in the player, with it stated that the bosses at the club ‘lack leadership strength’ in him.
Thus, they’ve definitively decided to let him go on a free, and that should come as very interesting news for West Ham.
Back in November, they were said to be ‘very interested’ in Stark, with David Moyes thought to be keen and the club even holding talks with his agent.
That was followed by a report explaining that he would entertain an offer in January and a move to the London Stadium would ‘appeal’ to him.
That never happened, despite West Ham needing to replace the injured Angelo Ogbonna, but the interest was there nonetheless.
They’ve now got a chance to get their man for free, and having already held talks with his agent a few months ago; the groundwork may already be there to work from.
