West Ham and VVV-Venlo confirm player exchange link up
Tuesday 13 October 2015 13:50, UK
West Ham have announced a link up with Dutch outfit VVV-Venlo which will see players exchanged between the two clubs.
The Hammers had been looking around Europe for such a partnership and Academy manager Terry Westley says he was impressed by the facilities in Venlo, as well as their style of play.
Westley's son Sam joined the Eerste Divisie side before the summer transfer window closed and further deals are expected now the deal has been ratified.
Terry Westley told West Ham's official website: "It's something we have looked at for 12 months. We have been to Slovakia, France and Holland.
"We have met with different clubs and we chose Venlo in the end after doing our homework and looking at the environment and what the staff are like.
"We managed to get the link after I went over to Holland and met the club's director to form a football partnership. We feel the high technical game which they play could suit our players.
"Our thought process was could we be futuristic? If you look at defenders, Reece Burke is a great example as going to Bradford is really helping him and being tough against a senior centre-forward.
"But if you are looking for a midfielder or an attacking player, you might be looking for a different type of game and Venlo ticks those boxes. Our staff can go and see the things they do and the same for them."
