West Ham’s Scottish shopping list now spans both sides of the Old Firm, with Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate and Rangers defender John Souttar under consideration for Nuno Espirito Santo’s summer shake-up.
The London side are rebuilding after relegation and see Hatate as an attractive option in midfield, with the 28-year-old having asked to leave Celtic and now entering the final two years of his Parkhead deal.
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According to iNews, Hatate and Souttar are both on a recruitment list drawn up by West Ham’s new director of player recruitment Nils Koppen, who previously worked at Rangers and is driving the focus on the Scottish market.
The Japan international has been a key performer in Glasgow but is keen on a new challenge, and West Ham view his creativity and work rate as a potential solution to their playmaking gap.
Souttar has been told he is not in Derek McInnes’ plans at Ibrox and is already on the radar of several English clubs, with Sheffield United and Leicester City both credited with an interest, and West Ham ready to rival that if a centre-back slot opens up before the window closes.
