- West Ham United were relegated from the Premier League last month
- Nottingham Forest are closing in on Hammers’ target Jan Ziółkowski
- Ziółkowski has made three appearances for the Polish national team
If there was a need for objective evidence that West Ham United’s relegation would prove impactful on their transfer business, then the latest development around a wanted international footballer would have shown as much.
The Hammers finished 18th and were pipped to the final safety position by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League season finale last May, and thus their 14-year stay in the top flight came to an end.
West Ham remain a relatively big club in English football, and will command finances that their Championship peers could only wish for, aswell as a 62,500-seater stadium to boost. However, the usual market that the East London club would usually shop in is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.
West Ham target Jan Ziółkowski closing in on Nottingham Forest
One of the areas that has clearly shown a need for investment is centre-back. None of the current first-team options has a guaranteed future at the club, with Axel Disasi returning to Chelsea after a successful loan spell and Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Maximilian Kilman all reported to leave.
Roma’s Jan Ziółkowski had been earmarked as a potential replacement for the aforementioned names. However, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport via Roma News, Nottingham Forest are engaged in talks to sign Polish centre-back Ziółkowski.
The Italian reports suggest that Forest offers an attractive option for both the club and the player, given that any move will help ease Roma’s financial situation, which will be under strict watch by UEFA’s financial regulators after qualifying for the Champions League. Also, the Premier League would help Ziółkowski build on his three international caps after making his senior debut for Poland in August 2025.
The soon-to-be 21-year-old moved to the Italian capital from Legia Warsaw for €6.6 million last summer and has made five starts under Gian Piero Gasperini.
Ziółkowski miss could set an unwanted tempo for the summer
Ziółkowski may be a minimal miss on the surface. After all, any deal for the Pole would’ve hinged on promise rather than substantial service. Nonetheless, it’s the type of outcome that West Ham could face numerous times this season.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side don’t have the allure of Premier League football to attract high-end senior talent, and with the immediate future firmly set on promotion from the Championship, it may not be enough for players looking to join a stable project.
As it stands, the onus will likely remain on outgoings as the club look to recoup around £150 million in player sales, but who replaces them will have a greater impact on their status for next season.
