West Ham United are already in talks to sign a Belgian star who impressed against them according to a new report.
West Ham are facing an extremely busy summer transfer window whether they like it or not.
The Hammers owners and technical director Tim Steidten have a big rebuild on their hands.
Because West Ham have six players out of contract and are likely to sell Lucas Paqueta to Man City.
That’s before even addressing the fact the club already needs four quality signings as things stand.
The top source at West Ham recently exclusively told Hammers News that Steidten will have money to spend in the window.
Steidten must make a case for the defence
And the German appears to be getting his ducks in a row to address one of the biggest areas of concern – central defence.
Nayef Aguerd is almost certain to be sold this summer whole Angelo Ogbonna is likely in his last few months as a Hammer.
Thilo Kehrer will join Monaco permanently and Kurt Zouma has issues playing two games close together due to longstanding knee issues.
Konstantinos Mavropanos has impressed on the whole but is prone to making the odd costly mistake, just as he did against Fulham on Sunday.
As a result the Hammers will likely need at least two new centre-halves in the summer, even if Zouma remains.
To that end West Ham are already in talks to try and sign a Belgian who impressed against them, claims a new report.
According to O Jogo, West Ham are pushing Anderlecht to sell them Belgium international Zeno Debast with a £13m deal mooted.
West Ham want Debast as Aguerd replacement
West Ham fans may remember Debast from the club’s Europa Conference League victories over his club last season.
Debast played in two tight games against the Hammers with David Moyes’ side winning 2-1 and 1-0.
But the 6ft 2in 20-year-old was very impressive and has since gone on to become a regular fixture in the Belgium squad.
Debast is excellent on the ball and comfortably dribbling out from the back. His passing range is also one of his big strengths.
Like all good defenders he does not rashly dive into tackles and is accomplished at playing the ball on the floor.
He would be the ideal replacement for Aguerd, who has been hugely disappointing since his £30m move from Rennes. And according to the report, Debast would cost West Ham half that price.
Belgian impressed against Hammers
That’s because the defender is entering the final year of his Anderlecht contract in the summer.
“Debast, it should be noted, will enter the final year of his contract in the summer and, as we understand, he has already made it known to his club that he aims to take the leap to another level,” O Jogo reports.
“This is, moreover, the reason why the current leader of the Belgian championship did not even present him with a proposal to renew, being available to negotiate the transfer of a player who he knows has several interested parties.
“In addition to Sporting, he is coveted, among others, by Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, West Ham, PSV and Ajax.”
Debast has been labelled the ‘new Vincent Kompany‘.
If he turns out to be half the player Kompany was and West Ham can get him for the kind of money being mentioned it would be an absolute steal.
You can check him out in action in the obligatory YouTube video below.