Top Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims West Ham are preparing to bid for a brand new target playing in Serie A.
New West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten have reportedly made it a top priority to sign two new centre-backs this summer.
The Hammers only have Konstantinos Mavropanos, Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.
There are doubts over Zouma’s future and availability due to longstanding knee issues which visibly impacted his mobility at times last season.
And a report at the weekend claimed Lopetegui has decided he wants to sell Zouma this summer.
Aguerd reportedly wants out and West Ham are keen to sell the inconsistent Moroccan with Atletico Madrid the favourites to sign him.
West Ham planning defensive overhaul
For some the jury is still out on big Greek defender Mavropanos. Although it is felt he would only improve alongside a better partner.
West Ham have already showed they mean business when it comes to overhauling the defence.
Steidten launched a move for Flamengo centre-back Fabricio Bruno which collapsed at the 11th hour.
And West Ham are said to be in for Wolves skipper Max Kilman, Brazilian Vitao, Jacobs Greaves, Maxime Esteve and – as reported on Hammers News yesterday – Jake O’Brien from Lyon.
Now there’s another fresh name in the defensive frame for the Hammers it seems.
Because Gianluca Di Marzio claims West Ham are preparing a bid for a new Serie A target.
Di Marzio claims West Ham are preparing Perez bid
The respected Italian transfer journalist Di Marzio claims West Ham have made enquiries for Udinese centre-back Nehuen Perez.
Napoli tried to buy 23-year-old Argentine Perez back in January for around £13m.
But Udinese rejected the move.
That has opened the door for West Ham to try their luck this summer according to Di Marzio.
Perez is a former Atletico Madrid player but never made a senior appearance for them. His form at Udinese has earned him two caps for Argentina.
The 6ft 1in centre half made 36 appearances in Serie A last season, recording one assist and averaging a 6.7/10 rating.
“After Napoli tried to buy him in the last transfer window, Nehuen Perez has now attracted the interest of several teams,” Di Marzio said on his own website.
“In particular, West Ham has carried out an initial survey for the Udinese central defender.
‘Hammers have surveyed Perez’
“The English club has shown some interest in the Argentine defender, even making an initial survey.
“After Aurelio De Laurentiis’ Napoli tried to buy him in January for a sum close to 16 million euros (£13m) plus bonuses, Nehuen Perez has now ended up in the sights of several teams.”
It will come as no surprise to fans that Lopetegui and Steidten are focusing their efforts on the defence in this West Ham rebuild.
The Hammers conceded a whopping 74 goals last season. That’s the most West Ham have ever shipped in a Premier League season – and there’s been some bad years.
This reported move for Perez continues the South American theme to West Ham’s transfer activity.
You can see what Perez might bring to the Hammers in the video below.