By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
ExWHUEmployee has revealed that Reiss Nelson’s proposed move to West Ham is pretty much done and is now effectively waiting for the Hammers to push the button.
However, West Ham are considering other options, including highly-rated Viking winger Edvin Austbø, and I think the choice between the two players could hardly be more stark.
In this video, I discuss why Nelson feels like the safe, short-term option.
He’s experienced and would probably do a decent job in the Championship, but his injury record concerns me and he’s approaching the final year of his Arsenal contract.
Indeed, West Ham previously appeared to have walked away from Nelson because of those injury concerns, so it would be interesting if the club have now reconsidered.
Austbø Represents Something Completely Different
Austbø is an exciting young winger with frightening potential who I believe could genuinely challenge Manor Solomon for a starting place.
He’s precisely the type of young, appreciating asset that clubs such as Brighton and Brentford have built their recruitment models around.
West Ham have already made an attempt to sign Austbø and the player himself has indicated he would be interested in the move.
The Hammers have already had one bid rejected by Viking, but I think what happens next will tell us an awful lot about Nils Koppen.
I’ve made this argument before. West Ham have benefited enormously from buying young players whose values subsequently increase, and Austbø looks far more suited to continuing that model.
A Big Test For Koppen
Nelson would provide experience and probably require very little adaptation to English football.
But we already know what he is.
Austbø offers something completely different: youth, pace, potential and the possibility of becoming considerably more valuable than whatever West Ham pay for him.
One signing feels like a sticking plaster.
The other feels like genuine ambition and forward thinking.
This decision could tell us an awful lot about where West Ham are heading.
when are people going to stop parroting on about Parrot? get over it mate. it’s been mentioned on this site a million times…he was never going to come to us because HE DIDN’T WANT TO COME TO US!! enough with whingeing about this guy. your rant is irrelevant and has been for weeks
Signing Nelson would feel like a Sullivan type signing. Cheap fee and we pay over the top wages for someone with a poor record of appearances…….so poor I would question whether he is experienced.
Why are we trying to sign an injury prone player on left wing when the best player this Saturday was the left winger.
That’s like getting the manager from the only team you have beaten that season.
Don’t need a left winger.
We need a left back a right back and 2 center half’s and a goal keeper.
Get the from a championship club who know how to play there.
If Villa have bid 18 million for Harwood-Bellis where’s our 20 million bid?
It’s going to be Nelson, isn’t it?
I’m more worried about the mess the board room is in ? don’t think any of the top directors attended the largest attendance in Championship history apart of course Sullivan ?
Is this unrest permiating down to the players in particular the ones that agreed to stay.
I’m sure a lot of the season ticket holders feel like they have been duped ?
After Saturday go for them both and we desperately need a strong forceful centre half as the dithering duo were at fault for both goals and that will not change unless this horrible partnership is broken up.Get Veltman a partner.
Gonzo we are heading one way and thats backwards . O think Sullivan still is organising things behind the scenes. Why west ham fans are just sitting there on not giving Sullivan grief at home games baffles me.
I agree with Saywhatnow. ”WHY-NOT-BOTH” Same as we should of bought PARROTT as well as PIREO and had another 2 strikers. lets face it we’re NOT gonna get 20 25 goals out of TATTY. PIROE and PARROTT could of become our ”SAS”
And it seams 2 me we always look at 10 or 15 players all in different positions that start off as being 25 million and we end up paying 10million every time except in Angle’s case.
And with players sold. we must have around 200 million in the pot to buy, that’s without the 90 million Krentsky said he was giving us. ”WHERE’S-ALL-THAT-MONEY-GONE-THEN-GUYS” ?????????????????????????????????? C O Y I’s
Plus £150m parachute money
Has to be Austbo!!!
This question must be a windup.
Nelson: Injury prone / played 13.5 games over last 6 years / £100,000 wages / last year of contract / no sell on value.
Could this player have a worse CV?
Edvin Austbo: Age 23 / versatile, l/w, r/w, LM, explosive pace / more affordable / possible value increase/ Koppen recommended.
Only whu could be questioning who would be best asset trouble is Nuno don’t know how to use pace.
Already linked to Daniel Job / Age 21 / fast / l/w, r/w, Striker / Koppen recommended.
Besides Austbo & Job also need c/bk, l/bk and attack mid that’s 5 players in 5 days.
Koppen has not proved his worth yet get these players and see if he’s any good.
Bowen leaving is just click bait whose worth £50m Diouf or Bowen?
Sorry spelt Lamadrid name wrong apologies
Can we get 3 new defenders 🙏🏽 we struggled with this back line last season couldn’t defend set pieces and for some reason we think it’ll be different this season 🤦🏻♂️ x4 goals conceded in two games in the championship …. If we don’t pull our socks up I can see Jarrod leaving at Xmas !
We desperately need defenders in my opinion, it is okay to sign up Austbo, not sure about Nelson would prefer a injury free young up and coming player who’s value will rise.
We may have had a lot of dead wood we have from recent managers, but a lot of the players we have sold for a great return.It has helped us get out of debt and yes there should be a lot of that money to get a few more players in now we have off loade Fulkrug off the wages and Fernandes, Summerville, Potts sold for good money and 2 more on their way.
We must keep hold of Bowen if we can, but if a massive offer comes in, who knows what they will do
I think if we can sort out the defence, I think we have enough every where else to work on.Think Lombard should start, sorry think Ward-Prowse should be sold.
What about Cresswell we were after last year, did he move on ?
“This decision could tell us an awful lot about where West Ham are heading.”
The way the club is at the moment I’d say they will probably get neither. And that would tell us which direction we are heading in! (Clue: not up)
That’s a statement eh – ‘at the moment’ !!!??
I’ve followed West Ham all over the place for 37years from 1978.
One good season finishing 3rd and naturally no champions league cos of Liverpool rioting v Juventus.
Things will never change 😟 over 62k turn up and the club just don’t deserve our support.
Change the badge, the stadium who are we nowadays but a club with brilliant support and nothing else
Westham can buy who they want it won’t make any difference whilst nuno is the manager. In time more players will want to leave for no other reason than poor management
Sign them both ⚒⚒
Nelson isn’t a safe option, but rather a highly risky one who additionally, is probably not good enough for the Championship. Arsenal fans will be laughing their heads off if we sign him. It’s a no-brainier as to which one we should sign.
What a mistake this would be with the injury record not a good idea!
No brainer but this is West Ham
Why not both?