According to reports, West Ham United is hoping to close a very intriguing double deal during the summer transfer season.
Luis Guilherme and Wes Foderingham are the two new additions that West Ham has made this summer, marking a successful start to the transfer window for director of football Tim Steidten and manager Julen Lopetegui.
Though they still have a lot of work ahead of them, the Hammers transfer team needs to bring in at least six new players to the London Stadium.
Although there are many outstanding players on David Moyes’ roster, overall it is an uneven collection of aging players.
Lopetegui needs to bolster his team’s deficiencies this summer, especially by bringing in a top-tier central defender and a talented striker.
With player sales excluded, the Spaniard has a budget of £90 million, of which £25 million has already been used for Guilherme.
Nayef Aguerd, a Moroccan who should fetch between £20 and £25 million, is reportedly willing to leave West Ham, and the club may also lose out on Danny Ings, Flynn Downes, and Michail Antonio.
So Lopetegui should have a fair bit of cash to play with this summer, and he apparently has two unbelievably exciting signings lined up…
West Ham target incredibly exciting double deal
Whatever else happens this summer, the Hammers boss absolutely has to sign a centre-back and a striker.
Lopetegui cannot afford to head into the new season without doing exactly that.
Fortunately, it seems like those are the two positions that he is prioritising strengthening right now.
Furthermore, the Evening Standard claims that the upcoming summer may be really exciting.
This is due to their assertion that Lopetegui has two very talented priority transfer targets lined up for this summer: one from Ligue 1 and one from the Premier League.
The manager of the Hammers is reportedly planning to sign Wolves center-back Max Kilman first.
The 27-year-old (C&H) is rumored to have received an offer from Wolves of £40 million, and West Ham is reportedly willing to pay up to £35 million.
It is likely that the two clubs will eventually come together in the midst.
Kilman would be a brilliant signing for West Ham.
He was a brilliant performer for Wolves last season, and possesses all of the qualities that we currently lack in the heart of our defence.
The Wolves ace is really strong in the air, commands his back-line with authority and is a well-renowned leader as well – he’s the current captain of Wolves don’t forget.
In 37 Premier League appearances for Wolves last season, the 27-year-old averaged 1.3 tackles, one interception, 4.8 clearances and 2.6 successful aerial duels.
He made 60.3 passes per game and recorded a completion rate of 86% (Who Scored).
In my mind, Kilman is the perfect upgrade on Nayef Aguerd due to the fact that he’s left-footed and is a far superior defender to the Moroccan.
However, Lopetegui not only has his eyes set on his former player this summer, but a sensationally gifted striker as well.
Stunning striker on Hammers radar
Jonathan David is a key target for West Ham according to the Evening Standard.
The 24-year-old Lille ace is an incredible footballer, and he would take our attacking play to a whole new level entirely.
The Canadian is absolutely rapid, I’m talking pace like we haven’t seen at West Ham for quite some time.
Imagine David playing in the middle of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus, with Lucas Paqueta behind him! Wow, just wow.
The 24-year-old bagged a really impressive 26 goals and nine assists in 47 games in all competitions for Lille last season.
He also has 26 goals in 48 international games for Canada to his name. Now he finally could be set for a big move to West Ham.
The striker is apparently available for just £25 million this summer as well.
So there you have it, for roughly £60-65 million, West Ham could sign two elite players, and lock down the vital centre-back and centre-forward positions for years to come.
Signing the defender and the striker in a brilliantly exciting double deal seems to me like an absolute no-brainer for West Ham, and Lopetegui, Steidten and co should be working to get the deals done quickly.
The Hammers’ pre-season campaign begins on July 20th, with a clash against Dagenham and Redbridge.
Lopetegui will want to get at least two or three more deals done before that date.
And if he manages to bring Kilman and David to the London Stadium, we’ll be in for a seriously exciting 2024/25 season.
