West Ham United are hopeful of signing Havard Nordtveit on a free transfer, with Slaven Bilic confirming his interest in the Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder.
The Norwegian’s contract runs out at the end of the season and although Bilic denied reports that Nordtveit has signed a pre-contract agreement with West Ham, the club are confident of beating off competition from the Bundesliga and Premier League. The 25-year-old was at Arsenal for three years before moving to Germany in 2011.
“I can only say that of course we are monitoring the player,” West Ham’s manager said. “He is out of contract and he is a very good player – many clubs are monitoring him. Almost all of the Bundesliga want him to stay there because he is a great professional and he is the captain of Borussia Mönchengladbach.
“They are a big club and were in the Champions League with Manchester City. It is not only Bundesliga clubs but many clubs in England we have heard want him as well. We are also interested in him.”
The potential arrival of Nordtveit, who can play in defensive midfield and central defence, casts doubt over the prospect of West Ham signing Alex Song on a permanent basis from Barcelona. Song has spent the past two seasons on loan at Upton Park, but the 28-year-old midfielder has struggled for form and playing time after recovering from the ankle injury that forced him to miss the first three months of this campaign.
