George Overhill

Sat 19 August 2023 19:10, UK

West Ham have reached “total agreement” with VfB Stuttgart over the permanent transfer of Konstantinos Mavropanos, according to Florian Plettenberg.

The Sky Germany journalist reported via Twitter Saturday (19 August) that the central defender will cost around €20million plus add-ons [£17.1m], and “wants to join” the Hammers, so the deal is now “close” after technical director Tim Steidten “was pushing” for the move.

According to Plettenberg it is only the “last details” that remain to be clarified before the 25-year-old becomes a West Ham player.

The Greek international is expected to undergo a medical in London on Sunday as he flies in from Germany later on Saturday night.

Steidten strikes

West Ham have been after a centre-back for most of the summer and while manager David Moyes wanted the Premier League veteran Harry Maguire, it looks like the technical director has come out on top here.

The German just arrived from the Bundesliga in July so he will know as well as anybody the qualities that former Arsenal man Mavropanos can bring.

If this deal now gets over the line in the next couple of days it would certainly appear to be one that has Steidten’s finger prints all over it, which on paper would mark a successful deal for the new Irons man.

But amid disagreements between him and Moyes over who to target this summer the Scot is going to need to be on board with the move even if his primary option was Maguire.

In fairness, West Ham spent enough time and energy trying to get the manager what he wanted in the form of the former Manchester United captain, but they had to draw the line somewhere.

Progress in the past week since that move collapsed has been comparatively rapid and with Mavropanos now on his way to England after four seasons in Germany with Nuremberg and then Stuttgart the 25-year-old looks set to be the third signing of the window.

In other West Ham news, the club have told Moyes he can’t have his number one attacking target this summer.