Wolves have reportedly named their asking price for West Ham United target Max Kilman.
Max Kilman had a strong campaign at the heart of the Wolves defence, joining Arsenal stalwart William Saliba in playing every single minute in the Premier League.
The 26-year-old is an assured presence at the back for Gary O’Neil and did form a blossoming partnership with defensive duo Craig Dawson and Toti Gomes.
Unfortunately, the injury to Dawson proved fatal to Wolves and Kilman’s form towards the latter stages of the campaign, with O’Neil’s men collecting just one win in 10 matches.
What’s more alarming is how many goals the Wanderers have shipped in the absence of the veteran defender, conceding an average of 2.2 goals per game during his spell on the sidelines.
With O’Neil discovering the club’s frustrating transfer strategy of needing to sell before they can buy this summer, perhaps it would be worth sanctioning a deal for the Englishman.
Wolves name asking price for West Ham target Max Kilman
Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has just been named the new manager of West Ham, succeeding David Moyes in the hotseat.
The Spaniard arrives at the London Stadium to take on his first job since departing Molineux last August, but it appears he’s looking to raid his former employers
According to the Daily Mirror, the Hammers are looking to recruit a right back, midfielder, right-footed left winger and striker to bolster his squad.
Lopetegui is also in the market for a new central defender and Kilman – who flourished under his guidance in Wolverhampton – is firmly on West Ham’s radar.
The report claims Wolves have slapped a £45 million price tag on the ball-playing defender, with the Wanderers previously rejecting a bid of £30 million from Italian giants Napoli last summer.
Wolves should seriously consider selling Max Kilman for that price
O’Neil is a huge fan of the “outstanding” Kilman, claiming he’s made huge strides as a footballer and captain this season.
But as it appears the Wanderers need to sell some of their talents before they can invest in their squad, luring in £45 million for a man who originally cost £40,000 would be smart business.
After all, Kilman did rank in the bottom 70% for tackles and the bottom 59% for interceptions among defenders in the Premier League, so he’s someone who could be easily replaced.
Meanwhile, it could be best for his career to move on from Molineux. He would have been frustrated not to have been selected for Gareth Southgate’s England squad and to give himself the best chance of being selected in future, he’s better off leaving.
Judging by O’Neil’s previous comments, it doesn’t seem like he wants to get rid of the Wolves captain however, if the Hammers trigger their asking price, it would be foolish to decline.