According to a report from talkSPORT, West Ham have joined the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton in the race to sign Norwich City full-back Max Aarons.
The 19-year-old Canaries right-back, who can also fill in at left-back, is one of the most highly sought-after young players in English football.
And he would be a truly exceptional signing for the Hammers.
West Ham have real problems at right-back.
Pablo Zabaleta is leaving in the summer, and Ryan Fredericks has been far from convincing since moving to the London Stadium in the summer of 2018.
Aarons would be absolutely ideal for the east London club.
He possesses blistering pace, plays with a certain type of attacking intent that would take the Hammers’ play down the right hand side to another level, and is a tenacious tackler.
The teenager’s positional sense is also very impressive for someone so young. There are, of course, lots of areas where the 19-year-old can still improve. But it is clear to see that he is a star in the making.
There is a problem, however – his price-tag.
The Daily Mail claims that Norwich want £30 million for Aarons. And it is highly unlikely that the West Ham owners will lay out that kind of cash for someone who is far from the finished article.
The young Englishman does only earn £5,000 per week according to Spotrac, however, so the Hammers will have no problem meeting his wage demands.
If the West Ham board are ambitious, they must prove it by going all out to sign players like Aarons. He is a truly exceptional talent, and would be the kind of next level signing the owners have been promising over the past few years.
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