Perhaps Kevin Lomonaco knew something he wasn’t telling us when the Argentine defender admitted earlier this year that he would be keen on a move to the Premier League and West Ham United.
Had The Hammers already made their interest known at that stage?
Was the 23-year-old colossus attempting to curry favour at the London Stadium ahead of an eventual summer switch to the top flight of English football?
Because, nearly two months since Kevin Lomonaco opened the door to West Ham, it appears that Graham Potter’s side are indeed taking steps towards making the Club Atletico Independiente defender their first signing of the summer window.
Reports last week claimed that West Ham United now plan to submit a bid almost as soon as the window opens.
The Hammers will reportedly offer £15 million for a 6ft 4ins giant spending the current season on loan at Independiente from Brazilian outfit Red Bull Bragantino.
West Ham United can land Kevin Lomonaco for £17 million
Argentine reporter Uriel Lugt, speaking to El Crack Deportivo, has now shed further light on the Lomonaco situation. He has a £17 million release clause in his Bragantino contract.
Meaning that, even if West Ham’s alleged £15 million bid falls short, they will only have to chuck a few more pounds onto that the table and Lomonaco’s future will be out of Red Bull hands.
“West Ham and Crystal Palace are keeping a close eye on Kevin Lomonaco,” Lugt explains.
“The defender is attracting interest from several clubs, and offers could arrive in June. He has a 20 million euro release clause.
“Independiente want to keep him until the end of the year.”
Interestingly, West Ham director Tim Steidten is reportedly an admirer of the so-called ‘Red Bull’ model.
Bringing in a talented young centre-half from Bragantino, one of many clubs under the taurine umbrella alongside Leipzig, Salzburg and New York Red Bulls, would be well received by sections of the fanbase keen to see an end to The Hammers’ tendency to take ill-advised punts on once-great players past their peak.
Sergio Aguero is a big fan of Red Bull starlet Lomoanco
Lomonaco has represented Argentina at Under-17 level.
Former Albiceleste icon and Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero is convinced Lomonaco will one day be representing the 2022 World champions at senior level.
“He’s a national team player,” Aguero says, Argentina still under the stewardship of one-time West Ham right-back Lionel Scaloni.
“[Lomonaco] is fast, strong. A phenomenon. Although the defence is already somewhat built, I think if Scaloni needs him, he’ll call him up.”
West Ham have been linked with Juventus’ Federico Gatti recently. David Hancko is on The Hammers’ radar too, according to reports out of the Netherlands.
Feyenoord ace Hancko was denied a reunion with Arne Slot at Liverpool last year but remains hopeful that a future awaits him in English football.
Despite only conceding once during Sunday’s draw with London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, this was another afternoon in which West Ham’s expensively-assembled backline flattered to deceive.
Max Kilman was caught out in the lead up to Wilson Odobert’s early opener. Jean-Clair Todibo – now a permanent member of the squad – also continues to struggle up against tricky, direct forwards with a turn of pace.
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