Kevin Lomonaco might have been taken aback somewhat by reports this week linking him with a move to Premier League outfit West Ham United, but those rumours certainly haven’t gone unnoticed back home at Independiente.
New claims coming out of Argentina say that, not only are West Ham willing to trigger the £17 million release clause in the 6ft 4in defender’s contract, but representatives of the London Stadium outfit have also made the near-7,000 mile trip to Buenos Aires in order to hold face-to-face discussions.
Now, it was the man himself who got the ball rolling in the spring.
Ever since Kevin Lomonaco admitted he was interested in a move to West Ham United – singling out the Hammers when discussing his ideal destinations – the former Red Bull Bragantino giant has barely been out of the gossip columns.
And whether or not there is truth to claims suggesting West Ham have dispatched representatives to Estadio Libertadores de America, via Muy Independiente, the prospect of a summer departure has at least one River Plate teammate on the charm offensive.
Independiente teammate begs Kevin Lomonaco to reject West Ham United
Sebastian Valdez, the man who often starts alongside Lomonaco in one of the meanest backlines in Argentinian football, labels his West Ham-linked teammate the standout centre-back in the country next to River Plate colossus Paulo Diaz.
By Valdez’s own admission, Lomonaco possesses the sort of effortless ability most players in his position can only dream of.
No wonder the former is praying that his right-footed partner rebuffs any offers from England and further afar.
“I was surprised [when I first saw Lomonaco in action]. I see him do things that seem easy but, for the rest of the defenders, they aren’t,” Valdez tells DSports Radio. “The surprise everyone has with him is the same one I had in training.
“He does things very naturally. You want to replicate them, but they don’t work out!”
Lomonaco is not only an excellent defender, the 23-year-old has made a habit of his buccaneering, charging runs into midfield. Considering what Graham Potter usually demands that his central defenders act as the first line of attack, Lomonaco feels well suited to life under the Hammers boss.
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero calls Lomonaco a ‘phenomenon’ for a reason.
“What he does is not normal. You see him [run] pass two or three players, and it’s not easy,” Valdez adds.
“We have a great relationship both on and off the pitch. Ever since I met him, I’ve been telling him to stay.”
Lomonaco coy on West Ham links as Independiente hold out for £17 million
West Ham recently cooled their interest in Brighton’s Adam Webster, presumably in pursuit of younger, more long-term solutions. Lomonaco is seven years Webster’s junior.
But after the Hammers signed Jean-Clair Todibo on a permanent deal last week, triggering the £32 million clause in his Nice contract, one imagines that the stylistically-similar Konstantinos Mavropanos may have to depart in order to make way for Lomonaco to take his place.
Lomonaco gave nothing away regarding those West Ham links this week, his focus fixed on making an impression during his first call up for the Argentinian national team.
Independiente director Daniel Seoane, though, has already made it clear that Lomonaco will not go anywhere for a penny less than £17 million.
“They are players we will not sell for less than their release clause,” Seoane told Infierno Rojo. “They are the backbone of the team, and what we discussed with the coach [Julio Vaccari] is not to dismantle that.
“We don’t negotiate players in Argentine soccer.
“There were calls and inquiries not only for Kevin Lomonaco, Felipe Loyola and Alvaro Angulo but for a whole host of players. [But] no firm offers have come in.”
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