According to Alan Nixon, West Ham United is interested in acquiring Lyon defender Jake O’Brien during the summer transfer window.
The Irish international is being linked to a move to Atletico Madrid, and the Hammers have identified him as a possible replacement. The journalist announced this via his Patreon page on Sunday, June 9.
Currently, Lyon value the defender at £30million which would be too expensive for the Irons, but there is a feeling that valuation could drop during negotiations between the two parties.
West Ham aren’t the only side interested in signing O’Brien this summer, but the opportunity to become a regular starter in the Premier League at the London Stadium could be too hard to reject this summer.
Will West Ham United sign Jake O’Brien as a transfer replacement for Nayef Aguerd?
West Ham need to reinforce their defence this summer, especially after such a poor end to the season where the likes of Kurt Zouma, Aguerd and Angelo Ogbonna were repeatedly exposed week after week.
All three of those defenders can be excellent when they’re at their best, but they are far too inconsistent to be playing week in and week out. With Ogbonna’s exit confirmed and speculation around Aguerd, a new centre-half is a priority.
O’Brien has shown during his time at Lyon that he is more than capable of playing football at the top level. That does mean that his valuation is high, but it could be a price worth paying for a young, but experienced defender.
The Hammers should be doing everything they can to get the groundwork in place to get this deal over the line this summer. If they do, they will be able to strike quickly if and when a bid arrives for Aguerd to depart.
It may be an expensive transfer to complete, but if he hits the heights expected of him he will be worth every penny.
