Konstantinos Mavropanos set for West Ham United axe amid new transfer developments
West Ham are still seeking a new centre-back signing for Julen Lopetegui despite the transfer window closing on Friday (30 August).
The Hammers have already added Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo to the squad, with both Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd departing on loan before the transfer window slammed shut.
Lopetegui has now been left with the aforementioned duo and Konstantinos Mavropanos, the Greek centre-back who has started all three of the Irons’ Premier League matches so far this season.
However, that could all be about the change for the 26-year-old, who was once said to produce “magic” by former Borussia Monchengladbach manager Pellegrino Matarazzo [Bundesliga official website].
With the Hammers in the market for a free agent, former Liverpool man Joel Matip has been targeted, as per ExWHUEmployee, with the club pushing ahead with talks to sign him.
It is also understood that World Cup winner Mats Hummels is Tim Steidten’s “preferred option”, according to Sean Whetstone, with him being well-known by the technical director.
Mavropanos to suffer from West Ham United transfer news
Mavropanos will feel extremely hard done by if he is to be sacrificed for a new defender, but if Steidten gets his way, it is difficult to argue with being replaced by the 2014 World Cup winner, if Hummels signs.
Though he only made 16 starts under David Moyes last season, the 26-year-old has been vital for Lopetegui so far. Even in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, he completed 91 per cent of his passes, made four clearances and won 100 per cent of his aerial duels [FotMob].
While Kilman took the plaudits during the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, and rightly so, Mavropanos quietly experienced one of his best games in a West Ham shirt.
As well as helping to keep the clean sheet, the 26-year-old won 100 per cent of his tackles, made six clearances, four interceptions and three recoveries, and won 100 per cent of his aerial duels [FotMob].
However, despite being 35 years of age, Hummels is still at the top of his game, even playing in the Champions League final last season, narrowly missing out on the trophy to Real Madrid.
In other West Ham news, one player travelled with his national team despite injury development.
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