West Ham ‘express interest’ in international midfielder, Crystal Palace reportedly set to rival Hammers

West Ham have reportedly “expressed an interested” in Dutch midfielder Guus Til, according to an update from online publication TEAMtalk.

It is understood that the Irons are tracking the four-cap international’s current situation ahead of a potential January move.

Til is contracted to Russian outfit Spartak Moscow, but has spent the first half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Feyenoord in his home country.

The Hammers aren’t the only Premier League side who are being linked with the player, however, with fellow Londoners Crystal Palace heading up a list that also includes Brighton, Everton, Southampton, Brentford, and Watford.

Who is Guus Til?

Til’s career to date has been a bit of a rollercoaster.

The attack-minded midfielder made his name at AZ Alkmaar, hitting 28 goals in 96 matches.

That return was enough to earn the player a £16 million move from his boyhood club to Spartak Moscow in 2019, but he’s struggled to properly establish himself in Russia, and his current loan stint is his second in two years, having also spent time with SC Freiburg.

Since returning to the Netherlands with Feyenoord, however, Til has gone from strength to strength. Fifteen goals in 27 matches have been enough to attract widespread attention, and he scored his first senior international goal back in September.

How likely are West Ham to seal a deal?

If reports are to be believed, then competition for Til’s services could be steep this January.

In particular, Patrick Vieira’s promising Crystal Palace side make for intriguing suitors given the young, exciting squad that the Frenchman is building at Selhurst Park.

Ultimately, however, this deal could rest on who is willing to be the most patient with Til.

Spartak do have a clause to recall the midfielder from his current loan in January, but it is understood that he is happy where he is, and is keen to stay in his home country to help boost his chances of booking a place in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad next summer.

Whoever is willing to bide their time for Til - or to buy him and allow him to stay where he is for the time being - could end up stealing ahead in the player’s affections.