West Ham told to reignite move for Arne Engels alternative - scouting expert
West Ham United and other English clubs should be paying serious consideration to the signing of Bodo/Glimt midfielder Patrick Berg this summer.
That is the opinion of former Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa scout and expert on Norwegian football, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The 28-year-old has been frequently mentioned as a potential target for the Hammers this summer, yet a concrete move is yet to materialise.
West Ham look to have opted for Arne Engels instead, but the rising costs of the move for the Celtic midfielder could see them reignite their interest in Berg.
The Norway international massively impressed in both the World Cup and the Champions League within the last year, and has just two years remaining on his contract with Bodo/Glimt.
It is unclear just how much the Norwegian side would demand, but the £11million sale of 25-year-old Kasper Hogh to Celtic may well provide an indicator.
Patrick Berg 'could do really well'
Berg's career began at Bodo/Glimt, where he made it through to the senior team and began to feature in 2015 at the age of just 17.
In 2022, the midfielder caught the eyes of Ligue 1 side RC Lens, and moved there for a small fee in the region of £3.8m.
But just six months later, after making just 19 appearances and struggling for minutes, Berg was back in Norway with Bodo/Glimt for almost the same fee.
His performances over the last year suggest a change since then, however, with a more eye-catching move on the cards this summer.
"There are a couple of more here that could be of interest. The boy, Patrick Berg, who plays for Bodo/Glimt, midfield player. I know him well. He did well in the World Cup," King told Football Insider.
"He's a good age, 28. If I was a Premier League club, I'd certainly have a look at him to bring him in. He's a good midfield player, international."
King also mentioned Sory Ibrahim Diarra, who is excelling in the second tier of Norway and may also be a target for English sides this summer.
"I mean, he could be a player to look at for Millwall, really," he continued. "And the same with Berg. I mean, those two players could really do well in the Championship.
"I think they'd do all right in the Premier League, but they could certainly be of interest for the Championship."
Berg's staggering display vs Union St Gilloise
Few performances better encapsulate what Berg is about than he most recent one, against Union St Gilloise on Tuesday as Bodo/Glimt won a thrilling Champions League qualifier 6-5 on aggregate.
The second game ended 3-2 to the Norwegian side, with the midfield maestro running the show for all 120 minutes.
The 28-year-old created two chances, took five shots, completed two accurate crosses, one successful dribble and five long balls.
Defensively, he was monstrous. Berg made eight tackles, one block, five clearances and four recoveries, winning a superb nine of his 10 duels.
The Norway international would be a supreme arrival for any club this summer, and West Ham should not pass up the opportunity.