A ‘prime’ £43m David Moyes defensive target linked with West Ham yesterday already has his heart set on Newcastle says Amanda Staveley.
West Ham and Newcastle seem to be operating in the same marketplace for players.
Newcastle tried – and almost succeeded – in hijacking West Ham’s move for Jesse Lingard in January.
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The Magpies and Hammers locked horns in a tussle for French striker Hugo Ekitike too. West Ham were also linked with reported Newcastle target Diego Carlos.
And Newcastle were even said to be trying to sign Issa Diop from West Ham too.
Well now West Ham are allegedly eyeing a blockbuster summer transfer for Lille centre-back Sven Botman.
That’s according to a report from The Evening Standard on Wednesday which claims the 22-year-old is a prime transfer target for Moyes with the Scot planning a squad overhaul at the London Stadium this summer.
Central defence is one of many areas where West Ham simply must strengthen as part of a big rebuild in the next window.
Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson turn 34 and 32 respectively in May. And the Italian favourite is coming back from a serious ACL injury.
The jury remains out on Diop and so a new defender is clearly a must.
Botman would be a truly sensational addition for West Ham United.
The Lille ace will cost around £43 million if the Hammers are to bring him to the London Stadium according to a report from L’Equipe (print edition, August 1st, page 37).
The 22-year-old Dutchman would be worth that kind of fee, however. He really is a truly top-class central defender.
The problem for Moyes is that the prime £43m West Ham target already has his heart set on Newcastle, who wanted him in January.
That’s according Newcastle chief Amanda Staveley.
Speaking to The Athletic recently, Newcastle “co-owner” Staveley claimed Botman ‘desperately wanted to come’ to St James’ Park in January and still ‘very much’ does.
“We had to encourage players (we were trying to sign) – ‘we’ll be a safe place for you, we’ll deliver and grow’,” Staveley told The Athletic.
“Some desperately wanted to come to us, like Sven (Botman), who still does very much and has talked very openly about that.”
If that really is the case then as soon as the summer window opens West Ham need to be ready to pounce for players they know want to move to the London Stadium and stop wasting their time.