A French journalist claims three key elements of a West Ham deal to sign Duje Caleta Car from Marseille have been agreed.
West Ham have been linked with Croatian central defender Caleta Car in every window since David Moyes’s return to the club in 2020.
Nothing has changed this month with Nikola Vlasic’s international teammate strongly linked with a move to east London as well as Premier League rivals Wolves and Newcastle.
French journalist claims three key elements of West Ham deal to sign Duje Caleta Car have been agreed
Talk of West Ham only being interested in a loan deal – something Marseille were not agreeable to – appeared to have put any chance of a deal in jeopardy.
Bu now according to journalist Marc Mechenoua of Goal France, the three key elements of a West Ham deal to sign DCC have been agreed.
The journalist claims – as also reported by Get French Football News – Caleta Car ‘would leave for €22m (£18.2m) plus €3m (£2.5m) in bonuses as well as a sell-on clause’.
“Journalist Marc Mechenoua of Goal France reports this afternoon that West Ham are in advanced talks to sign Marseille defender Duje Ćaleta-Car,” GFFN reports.
“The 25-year-old, who had already been the subject of interest from the Hammers in the summer of 2020, could leave for the Premier League with an agreement in the coming hours.
“The Croatian, who has this season grown into becoming a regular starter for Jorge Sampaoli after a difficult start to the year, would leave for €22m plus €3m in bonuses as well as a sell-on clause.”
Caleta Car plays as a left-sided centre back, a position Moyes has been keen to strengthen since Angelo Ogbonna was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.
With Ogbonna turning 34 in May a long-term successor was always going to be needed.
Whether Caleta Car is up to the task remains to be seen.
West Ham fans will be excited by his potential arrival. His range of passing is first class.
But DCC is not particularly quick and can be clumsy too.
He will, however, almost certainly be an upgrade on Issa Diop, who has struggled to step up in the absence of Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma.
Working under two ex defenders in the shape of Moyes and Stuart Pearce, though, Caleta Car will certainly be given the chance to improve.