Julen Lopetegui to solve West Ham United jigsaw puzzle as Fikayo Tomori update emerges
Julen Lopetegui has been on the search for a final centre-back addition at West Ham despite the transfer window being closed since the end of August.
John Egan was a potential free-agent option before he chose to join Burnley while Oumar Solet was targeted after being released by Red Bull Salzburg [HITC], but neither transfer has come to fruition.
With both Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma departing on loan, leaving a trio of Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos, finding another defender is not a terrible idea.
Former Liverpool man Joel Matip also looked to be a solid free-agent option, that was until the 33-year-old announced his retirement from football following a string of injuries [BBC Sport].
Of course, signing a free agent would be much cheaper for Lopetegui and the club, but if they can remain patient, a cheap deal for Fikayo Tomori could present itself.
West Ham United to sign Fikayo Tomori?
According to MilanLive [11 October], the former Chelsea star’s exit from AC Milan could be “inevitable” given his recent mistakes, and subsequent criticism, in Serie A, and the Hammers are keeping an eye.
The London side were reportedly interested in the 26-year-old centre-half during the most recent summer transfer window, but it would have cost them up to £38million [Calcio Mercato].
Now, with the Englishman valued at £25million, Lopetegui has a brilliant chance to add some much-needed experience to the backline, a defender with Champions League and Europa League football under his belt.
Kilman and Todibo look to be creating quite the partnership at the London Stadium, but if a serious injury were to strike, Lopetegui’s defensive options would become rather stretched.
If the Hammers can make it to January without any major concerns, Tomori – who was dubbed “outstanding” by Shaun Wright-Phillips in 2022 [X] – looks to be quite the bargain given his experience and pedigree on the football pitch.
In other West Ham news, Andy Carroll has opened up about his “difficult” times at the London Stadium, “Everything was dark”.
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