According to recent reports, Premier League side West Ham are set to finalise a pre-contract agreement - signing Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Havard Nordtveit, who is out-of-contract in the summer.
Who is Nordtveit?
He has shown an impressive range of versatility, having played as a centre-back, fullback, defensive midfielder and central midfielder for the German side this term already. Havard Nordtveit has four goals and one assist to his name this season - not bad for a player who has been used as a defensive player. He is known for his wonderful set-piece taking and has a great sense of when to break the opponent's attack up.
Some Arsenal fans might recognise the player, Nordtveit spent three years in the youth system before he left for the Bundesliga. Nordtveit has reportedly drawn the eye of many teams in the Premier League but the Hammers have reacted quick to snap him up. Nordtveit has nearly amassed 200 appearances for Gladbach to date, and if the move is complete, he'll have a great opportunity to show Arséne Wenger and his former side what they're missing out on.
How will he fit in?
It seems like Nordtveit coming in would most likely mean Alex Song's days at the Hammers are numbered and he - currently contracted to Barcelona - will be searching for a new club in the summer. Nordtveit has started to be known as one of the best holding midfielders in the Bundesliga, the 25-year-old said the following to Sky Germany after their recent win against Werder Bremen: "I think a decision [regarding my future] will come next." Playing in different positions during his time at Gladbach, the Norwegian has shown that he is very composed and intelligent no matter which position he used in.
His current club have featured in both the Champions League and Europa League in recent seasons, and Nordtveit has been heavily involved in their tough fixtures too. West Ham are on the brink of qualification to Europe's elite club competition, and completing an acquisition like this would be fantastic business for a side eager to prove their doubters wrong and finish as high as possible with the season drawing to a close.