West Ham United were one of the clubs linked with a move for Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup during the January transfer window, but the deal never went ahead after Jose Mourinho intervened to keep the player.
This is according to a Portuguese newspaper to ballIt is reported that the 21-year-old player seriously considered leaving Lisbon earlier this year due to limited playing time. However, the Benfica manager blocked the move to West Ham after assessing the player's potential and the team's needs for the second half of the season.
Schjelderup had been used only sporadically up to that point, which opened the door for several clubs to explore a transfer. West Ham was one of the teams monitoring the situation, along with Parma, Roma, Juventus and Besiktas. Club Brugge came closest to completing a deal.
According to the report, the Belgian side managed to reach an agreement with Schjelderup for a permanent transfer. However, negotiations with Benfica ultimately broke down, preventing the move from going ahead.
Interest from West Ham and other clubs
West Ham's presence on the list of interested clubs reflects their continued search for attacking depth, particularly in wide areas. We covered his alleged interest at the time And now the Portuguese press has confirmed it. The Hammers have regularly looked at emerging European talents in recent transfer windows, and Sjelderup fits that profile. West Ham also started talks.
The Norwegian winger joined Benfica from FC Nordsjælland in January 2023 and is considered one of the most technically gifted young attackers in the club's squad. Comfortable on both sides, he is known for his close control, acceleration and ability to attack defenders in one-on-one situations.
Due to his limited minutes at the start of this season, a loan move was also discussed with several clubs. Nevertheless, Benfica never fully opened the door for an exit after Mourinho made his position clear.
what happens next
For now, Schjelderup remains at Benfica and is expected to continue to fight for a bigger role in the team.
However, the level of interest over the winter suggests his position may be worth a look. Clubs such as West Ham have already been alerted to his availability. If his playing time in Lisbon remains limited, interest could easily return.
Benfica would obviously sell if the right offer came, so this is a pause rather than a pause. It remains to be seen whether West Ham will offer that offer.
The Hammers need to secure their Premier League status first.
