Reports emerging from Italy claim West Ham United have two big rivals if they still want Tottenham Hotspur defender Kieran Trippier.
The Hammers have been repeatedly linked with a move for Trippier over the last two years, as reported by The Daily Mail at the time.
His rise to prominence with Spurs and England in that time has made a move seem highly unlikely.
But Trippier’s form has suffered this season.
Trippier linked with summer departure
And it shows as he has been in and out of the Tottenham team while also losing his place with England to Liverpool’s brilliant Trent Alexander-Arnold.
As a result Speculation has been rife over Trippier’s future in North London.
West Ham have once again been mooted as a possible destination.
But now the official radio station for Serie A side Napoli have claimed the club and bitter rivals Juventus are both serious about a summer move (Football Italia).
Fredericks may have changed Pellegrini’s plans
With Ryan Fredericks finally coming of age in the Hammers first team, Manuel Pellegrini’s need for a new right-back is less acute.
Indeed Fredericks himself has urged Pellegrini not to go and ‘spend a fortune on a new right back’ – read full story.
If he does want to mount a bid for the fullback, though, the Chilean must act fast.
According to Valter De Maggio, the director of Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli, Trippier could soon be headed for the San Paolo, despite interest from Juventus.
“Both Napoli and Juventus are interested in Trippier,” De Maggio told the station, as reported by Football Italia.
‘He’s very close to joining Napoli’
“Defensively he’s very strong. He’s even better than what Maicon or Cafu were defensively. He’s very close to joining Napoli.”
Trippier is one of several Spurs stars linked with moves away this summer. Christian Eriksen, Danny Rose and Toby Alderweireld have all been linked with other clubs too.
Indeed Mauricio Pochettino has also hinted he could leave Spurs.
A Hammers move for Trippier at this stage seems a stretch.
Reports suggest Spurs are keen to offload him.
But in West Ham’s case the money would be better spent elsewhere in the team given Fredericks’s turnaround.
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