West Ham United have clearly set their sights on signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United this summer.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka would completely transform the West Ham defence, and it seems like he could be Hammers bound imminently.
Julen Lopetegui has quite clearly identified the right-back position at the London Stadium as an area that needs urgent attention.
Vladimir Coufal has been a solid performer for us over the past four years, but he’s not good enough to be playing for a Premier League team chasing a top six spot anymore, in my opinion.
Wan-Bissaka is the man the Hammers are zoning in on, and the right-back’s £90k-a-week wages (Daily Mail) surely shouldn’t represent too much of a problem for us.
We’ve been crying out for some pace in our back-line for years now, and the opportunity to sign the Man United ace seems to be too good to miss out on.
It’s worth remembering that Inter Milan want to sign him as well though, so the path to his signature isn’t completely clear for West Ham.
And now, another potential problem has emerged.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham twist
The speedy right-back looks to be all set to leave Old Trafford this summer.
I don’t blame him one little bit for wanting to return to London – he’s an exceptional defender who doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he’s playing under the microscope for one of the biggest clubs in world football.
A move to the London Stadium would suit him perfectly, and he’d be a fine addition to Lopetegui’s ranks.
Now though, a really big double twist has emerged.
According to a report from The Sun, West Ham are in fact prepared to meet Manchester United’s £18 million demands for Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
However, there is seemingly a very big problem.
And that is that the Hammers are unable to meet the 26-year-old’s wage demands.
Before that claim, it was reported as being completely the other way around – that West Ham weren’t prepared to meet Man United’s demands for the right-back but had already agreed personal terms with him.
So it remains to be seen whether the Sun’s report is correct or not, but either way, securing a deal for the former Crystal Palace man should be a priority for the Hammers.
He’s head and shoulders above Vladimir Coufal, and he would take us to another level entirely.
The former Palace man is one of the quickest defenders in world football, and there aren’t many better at sprinting back into position when opposition teams try to play counter attacking football.
Wan-Bissaka is an elite tackler, and his ability to man-mark wingers out of games could be very useful indeed for us.
His explosive pace will enable the Hammers to implement a more aggressive, high press, and signing him for £18 million would be good value for money for us.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not West Ham have agreed personal terms with Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Judging by the Sun’s report, that is certainly not the case whatsoever.
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