Di Marzio: West Ham United join the race to sign Champions League forward | OneFootball

West Ham Step Into Schjelderup Chase as January Plans Take Shape

West Ham’s January window has already carried a sense of quiet urgency, a feeling that incremental change rather than grand overhaul will define Nuno Espirito Santo’s first transfer period in charge. News from Italy, credited to Gianluca Di Marzio, that the club have entered talks to sign Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup fits neatly into that theme. This is not about headlines or spectacle, but about finding solutions.

Schjelderup, still only 21, feels like a player caught between promise and patience. At Benfica, opportunities have been rationed. 

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Why Schjelderup Appeals to Nuno Espirito Santo

There is something deliberate about West Ham’s interest. Schjelderup has two goals and three assists in 21 appearances this season, numbers that hint rather than shout. Yet they come from a winger whose Champions League exposure and tactical education in Lisbon have sharpened his game. He is not raw, but neither is he finished.

Espirito Santo has already added Pablo and Taty Castellanos, and the manager’s frontline now feels crowded but still undefined. A wide forward who can drift inside, stretch play, or simply offer unpredictability has obvious appeal. 

Competition From Italy and the Need to Move Quickly

West Ham are not alone. Parma and Roma are also reportedly keen on the 21-year-old Norway international, with Roma’s interest tied to their parallel pursuits of Giacomo Raspadori and Joshua Zirkzee. This matters. West Ham’s recent history suggests that hesitation can be costly, particularly when Italian clubs circle with intent.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a West Ham supporter’s perspective, this report prompts curiosity more than excitement, and perhaps that is no bad thing. Andreas Schjelderup feels like a signing designed for the medium term, not a quick fix for a frustrating league position. Many fans have grown wary of big names that fail to settle, so the idea of a 21-year-old hungry for minutes carries appeal.

There will be questions. Does he adapt quickly enough to the Premier League’s pace, or does he become another talent who needs time West Ham cannot always afford? Yet the context matters. With Jarrod Bowen often carrying the the offensive burden, will the new strikers & potentially Schjelderup be enough to add a new dynamic to West Ham.

A supporter might look at Schjelderup’s Benfica spell and think, if he can score a cup final winner in Lisbon, he can cope with pressure at the London Stadium. Regular football is what he wants, and West Ham could offer that platform.