According to Football Insider, West Ham have now pulled the plug on a move for Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters and will now explore other options.
West Ham United have had a busy summer with new manager Julen Lopetegui keen to make his mark on the current squad in East London.
The Spaniard has been tasked with building on the project David Moyes had started during his tenure and improving key areas of the squad that have failed to offer consistency and quality in performances seen last season.
The Irons finished ninth in the Premier League missing out on qualification of European football which will be frustrating for the fans, but an opportunity for Lopetegui to focus on getting the club back to fighting for a top-six finish without the added pressure of Europe.
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain and centre-back Max Kilman is one of three signings that Lopetegui and the Hammers hierarchy have completed this summer so far, and it is anticipated that there will be more incomings before the transfer window closes.
However, in reports yesterday it was revealed that West Ham are no longer interested in working on a deal to bring Kyle Walker-Peters to the London Stadium this summer.
Football Insider claims that negotiations collapsed with Southampton after it was revealed that the newly promoted club wanted £20m to part ways with their right-back.
It is further noted that the Hammers still intend to prioritise the signing of right-back in the remaining weeks of the transfer window, and will turn their full attention to a potential deal for Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka instead.
Will West Ham complete more signings this summer?
After losing Ben Johnson on a free transfer to Ipswich Town, there is depth desperately needed in the defensive set up and especially in the right-back role before the new campaign commences.
It is no secret that West Ham have had a long-term and widely reported interest in English defender Wan-Bissaka, and if there is a possibility a deal can be struck it would be high likely he would become Lopetegui’s fourth signing of the summer.
Sky Sports News have reported this morning that the Irons are now in talks to finalise a deal for the Man United man and the Red Devils have set an a valuation in excess of £15m.
With the return of Premier League football in just ten days it’s time for the East London outfit to bite the bullet and table some crucial offers to ensure the squad is fully covered and boasting reliability in the back-line when the Irons get stuck into the new season.
