‘West Ham want £13m Romano Schmid as Aston Villa and Fulham threaten’
West Ham may have to fend off interest from Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Fulham for attacking midfielder Romano Schmid this summer.
The 25-year-old joined Werder Bremen in 2019, since making 157 appearances, notching 14 goals and 22 assists in that time, and has clearly attracted attention from the clubs in the top flight of English football.
Football Insider understands that West Ham are set to push against financial regulations over the coming weeks, clearly with one eye on the attacking third of Graham Potter’s squad, especially after a very difficult 2024/25 campaign across all competitions.
While Jarrod Bowen’s form continues to amaze, Mohammed Kudus has joined Tottenham on a £55million deal [BBC Sport], leaving Niclas Fullkrug, Lucas Paqueta, and Tomas Soucek as the main goal threats.
Crysencio Summerville has struggled with injuries since arriving in East London, and other than 19-year-old Daniel Cummings, the main additions to the squad have been at full-back.
West Ham to race ahead for Romano Schmid
Writing via X (26 July), The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg said: “West Ham are considering a move for Werder Bremen attacking midfielder Romano Schmid. Austrian international could cost around €15m (£13.1m).
“A deal is not at an advanced stage, but West Ham are aware of the situation. Aston Villa and Fulham are also monitoring the 25-year-old.”
Lucas Paqueta replacement being readied in East London
Football Insider verdict
This could be Paqueta’s final few weeks at West Ham because, even though he could be found innocent of the betting charges against his name, that could only ramp up the interest in him.
Having been under the FA’s spotlight for over a year, his performances on the pitch have taken a significant hit, notching just five goal contributions during the entire 2024/25 campaign.
Mick Brown told Football Insider earlier this month that West Ham could accept a “huge” offer for Paqueta, with clubs circling from Brazil and the Saudi Pro League.
There is no doubt over the player’s abilities with the ball at his feet, but he has failed to impress during Potter’s very short time in charge, which could make all the difference to his future.
If the manager wants to remain in charge longer than just a few weeks, he needs to make some serious changes to the squad before the 2025/26 season kicks off, and the attacking midfielder is an important position.
Of course, Bowen can always be relied upon for goals at the London Stadium, but with Kudus gone and Paqueta possibly next, Schmidt appears to be a sensible choice for such a low transfer fee.