West Ham United remain firmly in the hunt to sign Max Kilman from Wolves – and Julen Lopetegui is ready to intensify his pursuit.
The Molineux captain is a top target for the Hammers, who are set to lose Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.
They have been admirers of Kilman for a long time, and this summer they have already seen a couple of bids rejected – one of their bids is said to have included a player.
Wolves are holding out for £45 million and so far, the club have stuck to that asking price.
The club are taking their time over Kilman, as they expect other clubs to come calling.
But Lopetegui is determined, and he is willing to sweeten the deal for Kilman.
Lopetegui ready to make Kilman the new captain of West Ham
It has been reported by Give Me Sport that West Ham will ramp up their efforts to sign Kilman this week.
The club will make a third bid to sign the 27-year-old, and they are hopeful their efforts will be successful.
Wolves remain determined to stick to their asking price. This summer, they don’t have financial problems like they did last time out.
But West Ham could eventually pay the asking price. Kilman is said to be very aware of the interest from the Irons and his former boss Lopetegui.
Lopetegui obviously knows the quality of the player very well from his short spell at Molineux.
Kilman is his top target and in order to get him, he is actually willing to make him his new captain at the London Stadium. Of course last summer, Kilman became Wolves’ new captain after Ruben Neves left for Saudi Arabia.
Kilman exit is a possibility
So Lopetegui is ready to tempt Kilman with the captaincy at West Ham, but first, the club need to get serious with their offer for the player. Wolves’ asking price is clear.
It will be interesting to see if this has any kind of effect on the player.
Dave Edwards recently said that it would be highly unlikely for Kilman to end up pushing for an exit from Wolves, given the type of person that he is having met him several times.
Ultimately, Wolves have done a lot for Kilman and only just made him their own captain. He probably isn’t going to have his head turned by this particular plan from his old manager.