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.
No brainer but this is West Ham
Why not both?