Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has given West Ham huge encouragement over Max Kilman with an admission about his situation.
West Ham’s ability to fund a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Max Kilman in the January transfer window has become more feasible in the last 24 hours.
And so too has the prospect of Wolves selling their brilliant captain it seems.
The Hammers have shipped fringe defender Thilo Kehrer out to Monaco while speculation is rife players such as Wolves-linked duo Said Benrahma and Danny Ings and defender Nayef Aguerd could follow.
Hammers linked with brilliant Kilman
It has also emerged West Ham made a £1.8m arrangement with Barclays to get access to the next £30m tranche of Declan Rice money early.
We reported on claims yesterday that West Ham have been told they can sign Kilman on one condition.
That being meeting the London-born, ball-carrying centre-back’s £40m asking price.
Now Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has given West Ham huge encouragement over Kilman with an admission.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Wolves’ FA Cup clash with Brentford, O’Neil was asked about the club’s January window plans.
And he admitted Wolves are still under the same FFP restrictions he was made aware of when joining the club.
O’Neil gives West Ham huge encouragement
And O’Neil conceded that means Wolves will have to sell players in order to buy this month.
“January is a tricky market and yea the financial restrictions we faced in the summer are still firmly in place, there’s no real change on that front,” O’Neil told the press, as broadcast on Sky Sports News on Thursday afternoon.
“So we’re working hard to try and improve of course, but within a tough January and within the financial restrictions that we have.
“Which is where I knew it was at the start so it’s no surprise to me, the club have been very open about it and I understand it. Zero complaints from me at all…
‘Outs before ins for Wolves’
“On the question of outs before ins, yea probably. If we can do a few bits going out it may help us with doing things that can come in. So there may be some movement on that. That will pretty much be how January unfolds really, if we’re able to do a few bits that free up some funds, we may be able to bring one or two in.”
Wolves are clearly desperate for cash to make their own signings and that will be music to West Ham’s ears.
On the face of it a deal for Kilman might appear unlikely. It would be unusual and rare to see the captain of a Premier League club sold in the January transfer window.
But this changes the whole landscape if the Hammers make an offer that is simply too good for Wolves to turn down.
And if O’Neil really is interested in Benrahma and Ings then they could potentially be used a makeweights to drive down how much cash West Ham have to part with in any move for Kilman.
Given O’Neil’s interest in Aaron Cresswell in the summer he could even be thrown into any deal if it helps grease the wheels.
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