West Ham United move for Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai is now ‘certain’
It is now “certain” that Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai will move to West Ham according to Turkish journalist Volkan Agir.
David Moyes urgently needs to bring somebody in with Issa Diop on his way to Fulham and every other senior centre-back except Kurt Zouma unavailable.
The Hammers had a bid for the Hungarian international rejected at the beginning of the month but ExWHUemployee subsequently suggested the 24-year-old could be available for just £10million.
The situation at the London Stadium is fairly critical, with Moyes having to put out Ben Johnson alongside Zouma for the game against Manchester City.
And it appears that sooner or later help will be arriving from Turkey as Agir, who has worked for Inside Futbol and 90min, wrote on Twitter Tuesday night (9 August): “Fenerbahce’s transfer of Szalai to West Ham is certain..”
Emergency
Thilo Kehrer, the German international from Paris Saint-Germain, is another target who appears to be a real possibility, but Szalai is certainly cheaper.
Whether the Irons have learnt their lesson during this window from previous deals falling through and are lining up two possibilities until one is completed, or they are actually considering signing both, it looks like back-up is on the way.
It is more likely that Moyes only signs one, since he didn’t actually want to be forced back into the market for a centre-back having already signed Nayef Aguerd at significant expense before the Moroccan’s injury.
If Szalai could be secured for the modest fee that has been quoted then that would represent much better value on paper, and wouldn’t eat up all the funds brought in when Diop completes his move across London.
Whether he is a better player then the more expensive Kehrer is the question however, and with both in their mid-20s they would feasibly be around for a while whichever one arrives.
Both are established internationals and 67 appearances over the past two and a bit seasons for Turkish giants Fener, to go with 27 caps for Hungary, suggest the cheaper man could add something in east London.