Copa America star Guillermo Maripan speaks out about collapsed summer move to West Ham

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West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini was heavily linked with a move to bring his Chilean compatriot Guillermo Maripan to the club over the summer.

According to reports West Ham were readying a £10-15million move for the 6ft 4in star (Mundo Deportivo and The Sun).

In fact Marca even claimed Maripan’s club Alaves did not field the 25-year-old in their last two La Liga fixtures of the 2018/19 season as they did not want to jeopardise his potential move to West Ham.

Pellegrini was heavily linked with compatriot

The rangy centre back went on to be one of the stars of the Copa America with Chile.

Maripan was twice named in the team of the round as he helped Chile to the semi-finals.

But the move to West Ham never materialised.

And how West Ham could do with him. The Hammers have got off to an inauspicious start and look poor at the back.

Copa star left feeling ‘awkward’ after failed Hammers move

Now speaking to El Mundo Deportivo Maripan has revealed he feels awkward at Alaves after his collapsed move to the Hammers and wishes it had been sorted.

“I felt a little awkward, because I would prefer that these things about transfers are resolved quickly,” Maripan told El Mundo Deportivo which named West Ham as the interested party.

“I only know that today I am a Alaves player, that my mind is here 100% and that is what I have made known to the coach and my teammates.

“Today I am an Alaves player and that’s how I feel; I would like to answer that for sure (for how long), but many things happen in football.”

Could Hammers revive interest in January?

The report claims Mario Husillos continues to monitor the defender.

And it also reveals the player has a £22million release clause in his contract.

The performances of West Ham’s defence, most notably Angelo Ogbonna at Brighton last time out, have given fans cause for concern.

Perhaps the Hammers will look to revive the move in January. Maripan certainly appears to have left the door open with his comments.