West Ham want to sign £8m-rated defender Moussa Niakhate

West Ham United are in the hunt to sign Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate in the summer for a cut-price, according to The Telegraph.

The 26-year-old former French youth international will have just 12 months left on his contract with the Bundesliga club come the start of next season with Newcastle and Everton also in the race for his signature.

Mainz could be prepared to let him go for just £8million which would be a steal in the current market as David Moyes looks for cover for the long-term injured Angelo Ogbonna.

West Ham

The Premier League trio do face competition from Champions League clubs in Germany who could tempt him to stay in the Bundesliga but the lure of England might coerce him to UK shores.

Brilliant option

There is so much that could go well with this transfer if West Ham are able to pull it off.

Starting with the price tag, you won’t find a defender as good as Niakhate anywhere in world football who is available for such a small transfer fee.

West Ham

Because £8million is such an easy price for Premier League clubs to pay, Newcastle and Everton won’t have a problem matching the Hammers’ offer should they submit one but they won’t be able to offer as good a team as the Irons can.

Not only that, but the Hammers could have European football to offer the Frenchman as well which is something neither Newcastle nor Everton can, the Toffees might not even be in the Premier League come next season!

If Moyes is serious about improving the entire squad at the London Stadium, then Niakhate at just £8million should be towards the very top of his summer bucket list.

In other West Ham news, we’ve picked apart how the Irons can dismantle Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday.

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