A journalist claims Julen Lopetegui’s top transfer target wants to join West Ham this summer ahead of a bid from the Hammers.
Julen Lopetegui is now officially in the door at West Ham as he and Tim Steidten work on a major overhaul of the team.
A report emerged 10 days ago claiming West Ham technical director Steidten was prioritising signing two centre-backs and a forward for Lopetegui.
It’s easy to see why with Thilo Kehrer signing permanently for Monaco, veteran Angelo Ogbonna nearing the end of his Hammers career, Nayef Aguerd up for sale and doubts over Kurt Zouma.
The good news for the Hammers is that Steidten seems to be making some real progress.
A £12.8m deal has been agreed with Flamengo for Brazil international Fabricio Bruno.
A Brazilian journalist has revealed that the 28-year-old will join West Ham after his final game next Wednesday.
So one of the two centre-backs West Ham want to sign has been taken care of already.
Steidten making real progress
The summer transfer window opens for domestic deals on June 14th.
So West Ham can officially sign players from other English clubs and vice versa from that date.
Lopetegui arrived at West Ham with a list of targets he wanted the club to sign for him.
The man at the top of that list is said to be Wolves captain Max Kilman according to the likes of Claret and Hugh.
The Hammers have been heavily linked with a move for Kilman since January.
It was clear then that the Hammers – like most Premier League clubs – would have to wait until the summer to have the funds to meet Wolves’ asking price for the London-born, ball-carrying centre-back.
With West Ham keen to show Lopetegui they are backing him as promised, a bid is being readied to meet Wolves’ £45m asking price claim The Sun.
Lopetegui’s top target wants to join West Ham
Ahead of the last game of the season, Wolverhampton boss Gary O’Neil admitted he will have to sell a top player in order to be able to make signings this summer.
Now a journalist claims Lopetegui’s top target wants to join West Ham.
It’s not easy to sign another Premier League club’s captain.
So it helps if the player is open to the move.
The good news for West Ham is that Kilman is up for a reunion with Lopetegui at the London Stadium.
That’s according to Jack Rosser, who has strong contacts at West Ham having been The Evening Standard’s Hammers reporter before joining The Sun.
“West Ham considering a move for Wolves captain Max Kilman this summer,” Rosser said on X.
“He played under Julen Lopetegui, interest was there under Moyes and Kilman is open to moving this summer.
“Defence needs a lot of work.”
Kilman signing would make huge statement
If West Ham’s owners want to show Lopetegui and fans they mean business then signing Kilman would be a real statement of intent.
Wolves are desperate for cash – their manager has admitted as much. That will be music to West Ham’s ears.
But it is up to the Hammers to make an offer that is not derisory and tempt Wolves to sell.
Thankfully getting deals done is where Steidten excels. Just look at the coups of landing Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez last summer.
West Ham need to lower the average age of the Premier League’s second oldest squad while also bringing in more players who tick the homegrown status box.
The team has been crying out for a new starting centre-back and more leadership. Even David Moyes admitted the team lacks leaders after the recent 5-0 defeat to Chelsea.
At 26 and as one of the leading centre-backs and captains in the top flight, Kilman ticks all those boxes.