A manager has made a confession about his star’s future as West Ham hold talks ahead of an expected new bid.
It is well publicised that West Ham are in the market for eight signings this summer.
The Hammers have made three thus far with another five expected to arrive at the London Stadium.
Luis Guilherme, Wes Foderingham and Max Kilman have taken West Ham’s spending past £60m.
New Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui wants to almost completely overhaul West Ham’s defence.
That makes perfect sense given the team conceded a club record 74 Premier League goals last season.
Kilman’s arrival in a £40m deal from Wolves is the first major piece in that particular jigsaw.
Technical director Tim Steidten is working to sign another centre-back for Lopetegui and at least one versatile full-back too.
Talks have taken place with Southampton for Kyle Walker-Peters while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is also a target.
Manager’s confession about star’s future as West Ham hold talks
Before Kilman signed for the Hammers on Saturday, the club saw a bid for Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo rejected.
Many West Ham fans believed the Kilman signing would put paid to the interest in Todibo – who is said to be valued at around £35m by the French side.
But it has been confirmed that West Ham still want to sign Todibo as Kilman’s central defensive partner in east London.
Nice-Matin (print edition July 10th, page 41) has gone one further by reporting that the Hammers are still looking to sign the former Barcelona flop and are the only club to have made a significant offer for the 24-year-old.
The report from France states West Ham’s first bid was worth around £30m and also claims Lopetegui has actually held talks with Todibo about joining.
New Hammers bid expected as boss admits Todibo could be sold
Now Todibo’s manager has made a confession about his star’s future as West Ham hold talks ahead of an expected new bid.
Rumours abound that the Hammers are preparing to make a second, slightly improved offer to INEOS-owned Nice.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe saw his attempts to sell Todibo to himself at Man United blocked by UEFA.
So any move to West Ham will undoubtedly – and understandably – be dogged by theories Todibo will be “parked” at the London Stadium for Man United to sign at a later date.
In the meantime, though, Todibo’s new boss Franck Haise has admitted the defender could be on the move soon after being asked about the interest from West Ham.
Haise confessed Todibo could be sold within the next few weeks after he played in a pre-season friendly.
‘I know full well some players will no longer be here’
“There are possibilities for lots of players,” Haise told GFFN.
“For the reasons you know, the market hasn’t really got going yet as you can see. I work with the players that I currently have. I know full well that in 15 days or a month there are players that will no longer be here or players that will arrive.
“For now, Jean-Clair is working well, he is very serious. He had a good half. I have no issue with playing him because perhaps he will stay at Nice, we don’t know.”
West Ham’s other central defensive targets are dwindling.
Jacob Greaves looks set to join Ipswich from Hull while Lyon’s Jake O’Brien is reportedly keen on a move to Everton.
Any deal for Todibo may have to wait, though.
A club spokesman told Hammers News last week that West Ham’s focus is signing a striker after bringing in Kilman.
It is thought the Hammers will look to secure the sales of the likes of Flynn Downes, Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd to raise more transfer funds and ‘free up slots’ in the squad.
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