Hoffenheim are reportedly aiming to jump ahead of West Ham in the race to sign Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Taras Stepanenko.
According to a report from ESPN, former Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was a big admirer of the Ukraine international’s talents and was deep into negotiations with Shakhtar regarding a January deal worth around €8 million.
However, with Bilic having been replaced by David Moyes since then, a move is looking somewhat unlikely as the new Hammers manager identifies new targets.
Stepanenko has been a consistent player for club and country over recent years and has evidently caught the eye of other European clubs, such as Hoffenheim.
The report states that the Bundesliga side are confident of using West Ham’s alteration in management to their advantage, giving them the upper hand in the race for the 28-year-old defensive midfielder.
Moyes is likely to be backed with some funds in January but is set to miss out on the chance to sign Stepanenko, with Hoffenheim circling.
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