West Ham United must be swift in race for Konstantinos Mavropanos as Sky Sports Germany shares new update
Napoli are pushing to sign Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, according to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg and West Ham United must be swift to convince the defender.
The Sun reported on 31 July that the Hammers are keeping tabs on the Stuttgart star who left the Premier League permanently last summer to join the Bundesliga side after an initial one-year loan deal.
And according to Plettenberg, taking to his personal Twitter account (1 August), the 25-year-old defender has not yet taken a decision on his next destination because of interest from the Premier League, including West Ham.
He tweeted: “Napoli is still pushing for Mavropanos as he wants to leave VFB Stuttgart this window!
“Price valuation and talks about €20m (£17.1m).
“Player has not yet taken a decision. No verbal agreement in place because of several inquiries from the Premier League. Talks ongoing.”
As well as West Ham, Wolves are also monitoring the Greece international’s situation, according to The Sun with both clubs keen to strengthen their backlines before the season gets underway.
Serie A champions Napoli certainly represents an attractive and arguably easy option for Mavropanos to choose from given their position right now, but Plettenberg’s update certainly indicates that the Greek international is currently weighing up his positions, with the Premier League interest proving a tempting option.
After Declan Rice’s £100m sale, the Hammers certainly have cash in the back to seal a much-needed defensive transfer and Mavropanos certainly seems the ideal target given his current abilities, stark potential and readiness to compete at the top level.
West Ham desperately need defensive reinforcements, having struggled with a huge number of injury problems last season, drastically causing their disappointing form in the Premier League.
Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma, Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd all endured periods on the treatment table last year, and it’s why the reports have emerged over the past month linking the Irons with several names including Manchester City’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Real Betis’ Luiz Felipe and AS Roma’s Roger Ibanez.
And Mavropanos is certainly the latest name in the frame, and his qualities are quite clear after a superb campaign in the German Bundesliga, despite their flirtation with relegation and only surviving the drop in the playoffs. However, the 25-year-old proved a key and influential commodity throughout the campaign, featuring in 28 league appearances this season, scoring twice.
And his underlying stats make for sensational reading, marking him out as the complete defender who is certainly ready to make the huge step up this coming season.
Mavropanos ranks in several top defensive metrics of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, ranking in the 99th percentile for interceptions per 90, 92nd percentile for aerial duels won, 80th for tackles per 90 and also ranks as one of the most influential centre-backs on the continent for his progressive play and influence in the final third [FBRef].
West Ham United’s need for defensive reinforcement is abundantly clear and their links to several names certainly point to that fact, but if Mavropano is at the top of their wishlist this summer, they simply have to most fast with Serie A champions Napoli set to steal a march on his signature.
For £17m, the Greek international represents an absolute snip in an inflated market as the Hammers have found out already. An opportunity they cannot afford to allow it to pass them by.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are surely well positioned to seal the signing of this burgeoning £15m Manchester City talent.