Report – West Ham plot £15m bid for centre-back
West Ham are preparing to launch a £15 million bid for Galatasaray centre-back Christian Luyindama, according to Turkish outlet Fotomac.
The report claims that the Hammers are willing to go toe-toe with Premier League rivals Everton for the star, who has fallen out of favour with the Turkish giants.
The 26-year-old has slipped down the pecking order with his current employers after sustaining a knee ligament injury that has kept him sidelined for most of the season.
The Congolese star has returned to light training, however, and is expected to be ready for first team action again by the end of May.
It is understood that his injury issues have not dampened the Hammers; interest though, with a sizeable offer said to be in the pipeline.
Would Luyindama be a good addition for the Irons?
There’s no reason why he couldn’t be.
Clearly, his recent injury record has been far from ideal, and the length spell on the sidelines could lead to some rustiness, but Luyindama showed plenty of quality before his absence, and if he could rekindle that spark then there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be a great signing.
Over the course of his career, he has averaged an aerial duel win percentage of 63%, as well as 6.6 interceptions, and 4.36 clearances per game, as per Wyscout.
Those numbers illustrate a player who is a domineering presence at the heart of defence, but who also reads the game and anticipates play well.
As a point of reference, Issa Diop has averaged an aerial duel win percentage of 60.2%, as well as 5.53 interceptions, and 3.36 clearances per match, as per Wyscout.
£15 million isn’t a ridiculously high figure in the current market, and if Luyindama could replicate that kind of form in England, it could be a great piece of business.
In other West Ham news, Report – Hammers stance on summer swoop for 28y/o PL ace revealed.