West Ham are planning to go back in for Duje Caleta-Car in January but could face competition from Newcastle United according to a report from Calcio Mercato.
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Hammers boss David Moyes tried to bring the 25-year-old centre-back to the London Stadium in the summer (RMC Sport and ExWHUemployee).
The Scot ended up signing Kurt Zouma from Chelsea instead, however.
If fact, West Ham have been trying to sign Caleta-Car-Car since the summer of 2020.
The Sun claims that the East London outfit had a £25 million bid for the Croatia international knocked back 14 months ago.
And with Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson set to turn 34 and 32 respectively before the start of next season, Moyes moving back in for Caleta-Car in January or next summer would certainly make sense.
West Ham want Caleta-Car but face Newcastle competition
Calcio Mercato claims that the Hammers and the Magpies are both chasing the 25-year-old centre-half.
He is out of contract with Marseille in the summer of 2023.
So perhaps West Ham and Newcastle will feel as though they can secure themselves a bargain for Caleta-Car-Car over the course of the next six months.
The Croatian is a very good defender and he’d be a fine addition to Moyes’s ranks. He kept Harry Kane quiet during the Euros at Wembley in the summer.
In 33 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille last season, the Croatian scored two goals and registered one assist. In those outings, the Croatian averaged 0.9 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 3.9 clearances per game. He also won an average of 2.5 aerial duals per match (Who Scored).
The Croatian has improved in all of those categories bar clearances in six Ligue 1 outings so far this season.
Caleta-Car is a very strong all-round defender and he would improve the Hammers’ backline immeasurably.
Well-renowned football analysis and scouting website IBWM recently described Caleta-Car as an ‘exceptional talent’.
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Whether we manage to beat Newcastle to his signature what with their new found financial muscle, however, remains to be seen.
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