Eyebrows were raised when West Ham paid Wolverhampton Wanderers £40m for their captain Max Kilman this summer.
When West Ham formally announced the capture of Max Kilman from Wolves it made sense in so many ways.
The 27-year-old London-born star was the prime defensive target of West Ham head coach – and former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss – Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham would not take no for an answer over Kilman. After weeks of talks a deal was sealed at £40m as Kilman signed a seven-year contract at the London Stadium.
Signing the captain of a rival Premier League club in the prime of their career is rare for clubs like West Ham. It is usually the preserve of Europe’s elite.
So it’s certainly not cheap, especially when they are English.
Kilman nay-sayers on both sides of £40m deal
Some top clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Napoli were all linked with the ball-carrying centre-back before West Ham signed him.
Yet some Hammers fans raised doubts about Kilman’s quality and the size of the fee.
Much of that stemmed from Wolves fans actually celebrating the sale of their captain on social media.
The inference from many Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters being that Kilman was overrated and West Ham had overpaid.
Hammers News even spoke to a top Wolves expert and journalist to address fears over Kilman in the wake of the move.
Tom Procter told Hammers News that there has been criticism from Wolves fans towards Kilman. But he feels it has been ‘harsh and over the top’.
On selling their skipper to the Hammers, Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs spoke out to warn ungrateful fans they will miss Kilman.
Wolves chief right as Kilman makes fans look ridiculous
Well it seems the Wolves chief right as new West Ham star Kilman makes fans look ridiculous.
Among some of the criticisms of Kilman were claims he was weak, a liability and could only be trusted if paired with a more dominant partner.
Kilman has now been West Ham’s best player in both of their first two games.
In West Ham’s 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, Kilman was immense and comfortably the man of the match.
His reading of the game, dominance, tackling, passing and carrying the ball out of defence was like a prime Rio Ferdinand.
West Ham’s new libero grande
The piece de resistance came when Kilman strode forwards from the back and beat three players as he rampaged into Palace’s half.
Kilman then showed superb vision and technique to play a brilliant through ball for Jarrod Bowen to score the all-important second goal.
The centre-back is ramming words down a few throats already, proving Wolves chief Hobbs right.
“I don’t know anyone at the club who would have a negative word about him,” Hobbs said in light of the criticism from some Wolves supporters.
“Maybe people will realise what he did on the pitch more now he’s left than when he was here.”
It’s only taken two games.
But don’t take our word for it – the Match of the Day gang waxed lyrical about Kilman following his libero grande display against Palace.
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