OH Leuven are hoping that West Ham will revive their interest in Mandela Keita in the summer and ‘cross their fingers’ for a big bid from the Hammers.
That’s according to Voetbal Nieuws, who cover the player today and comments from Royal Antwerp FC manager Mark van Bommel on the player.
Keita is currently on loan at Antwerp from OH Leuven in a deal that includes a purchase option for the summer, although that is considered ‘tough’ for them to activate as the Belgian club are short on money and needs to sell players in the summer.
That means Keita is likely to be moving back to his parent club in the summer, something Van Bommel also sees happening.
“No. There is currently interest in Keita and that interest will not disappear,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws regarding the player’s future.
That interest comes from West Ham, according to VN, who they say were interested in the January transfer window but didn’t get a deal done.
Antwerp are hoping that interest is revived in the summer and ‘cross their fingers’ that the Hammers, or any other potential suitors, will be willing to pay ‘a large sum’ for him.
He’s currently valued at €11m but Antwerp ‘may hope’ to get at least €20m.
For now, it’s simply clear that he won’t be remaining at Antwerp and his future is something to keep an eye on in the coming months after West Ham’s interest in January.
