---
title: "Virals: West Ham ‘highly interested’ in Hertha Berlin defender Niklas Stark"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/11/19/virals-west-ham-highly-interested-in-hertha-berlin-defender-niklas-stark/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-11-19T12:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-11-19T12:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham ‘highly interested’ in Hertha Berlin defender Niklas Stark

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/11/18/virals-west-ham-have-reportedly-watched-fc-basel-striker-arthur-cabral/) are reportedly ‘highly interested’ in Herta Berlin central defender Niklas Stark.

The Hammers are believed to be on the lookout for defensive reinforcements following the [cruel injury suffered by Angelo Ogbonna](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/november/09-november/angelo-ogbonna-injury-update) against Liverpool.

Already [linked with various options](https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/transfer-news/burnley-tarkowski-west-ham-newcastle-22180941) since the Italian’s prognosis, Irons’ boss David Moyes has seemingly cast an eye further afield.

According to a report from [Sport 1](https://www.sport1.de/news/transfermarkt/2021/11/west-ham-united-lockt-niklas-stark-von-hertha-bsc), as cited by [Florian Plettenberg](https://twitter.com/Plettigoal) on Twitter, West Ham have already initiated contact to sign Stark.

> News Niklas Stark: [@WestHam](https://twitter.com/WestHam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is highly interested. First talks have taken place. [#WHU](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WHU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) need to replace Ogbonna. Moyes wants him. Player is also interested but he also feels comfortable [@HerthaBSC](https://twitter.com/HerthaBSC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). The club wants to make the deal in winter. He is a free agent 2022. [@SPORT1](https://twitter.com/SPORT1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 🇩🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 [pic.twitter.com/JxxoMOflIP](https://t.co/JxxoMOflIP)
>
> — Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) [November 19, 2021](https://twitter.com/Plettigoal/status/1461620304074227716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The report claims that Moyes sees ‘a lot of potential’ in the [twice-capped](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niklas-stark/nationalmannschaft/spieler/162434/verein_id/3262) German 26-year-old and is ‘keen’ to make the deal happen.

So far this season Stark has earned a [6.67 average Sofascore rating](https://www.sofascore.com/player/niklas-stark/229544) from 10 Bundesliga appearances.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Valued at just £9million and fast approaching the final six months of a contract in Germany ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niklas-stark/marktwertverlauf/spieler/162434)), there is huge scope to get this deal over the line in the mid-season window.

An [experienced top-flight operator](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/niklas-stark/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/162434) with international prowess, signing Stark would allow Moyes to keep the status quo elsewhere within the West Ham squad.

Also adept at playing in a defensive midfield role, the German’s [versatility](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/124597/Show/Niklas-Stark) would be a welcome boost to the Irons’ squad.