West Ham United transfer news as highly-rated Juventus defender Koni De Winter wanted
West Ham United are ready to knock on Juventus’ door to sign highly-rated centre-back Koni De Winter this summer, according to Calciomercato.
De Winter is currently impressing on loan at Italian club Empoli and he has been a useful first-team player, going on to feature 13 times so far this season and the Hammers were previously linked [Corriere dello Sport, 26 November], with a £10.3m fee believed to be enough to secure his signature.
Italian outlet TuttoJuve on 23 March reiterated West Ham’s desire to sign the 20-year-old defender with Juventus looking to have him back for preseason to evaluate. And “the doors could open to a definitive sale” if he fails to impress Max Allegri.
According to Calcio Mercato [8 April], De Winter is worth £13.3m in today’s market and West Ham United are “ready to knock on Juventus’ door for the talented defender’s signature.
However, the player’s priority remains staying and impressing at the European giants beyond this summer, the report goes on to reveal.
Fight to sign
Winter has made 12 appearances in the Series A side so far, and he gives the impression of a cracking young talent.
With West Ham United set to undergo a huge summer rebuild, acquiring young talents to help develop and nurture them seems the ideal way to go for the East Londoners to build a sustainable future and club model.
And that is why De Winter is an attractive proposition coming in and adding quality to the club’s defence as well as giving him the ideal platform to improve and develop, potentially giving the club ample opportunity to go on and make a profit.
West Ham United have had endured their fair share of injury and fitness issues at centre-back with all of Nayef Aguerd, Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma all suffering periods on the treatment table this season, which means the club are certainly likely to add to their defensive options this summer.
Providing De Winter fails to convince The Old Lady during pre-season, the Hammers should certainly be one of the first in the queue for his signature given his amazing potential and the number of clubs currently interested in his services.
It’s a smart move, but only if the club manages to confirm their Premier League status for next season.