Julen Lopetegui wants to make Max Kilman West Ham United captain, new bid in days
West Ham United are set to make a fresh bid for Wolves star Max Kilman “in the coming days”, according to GiveMeSport.
Writing on their website (1 July), the news outlet report that the 27-year-old remains the prime target and the hope is they can agree a deal with his current club in the coming weeks.
Kilman is open to the move and Julen Lopetegui rates him so highly that he is also considering making the centre-back captain at the London Stadium if he signs, taking the armband away from Kurt Zouma.
Max Kilman to be new West Ham United captain?
The captaincy has been an ongoing topic in east London for a couple of years now after Declan Rice replaced Mark Noble following his retirement, before Zouma took the role after Rice was sold to Arsenal.
But the French defender suffered with injury problems and a loss of form during the 2023/24 season, and is now attracting interest from Saudi Arabia which could see him move on.
That’s part of the reason why there is transfer interest in Kilman to begin with, along with Nayef Aguerd being wanted too [Hakim Zhouri, 11 May], but Lopetegui is already well aware of Kilman’s leadership qualities.
The Spanish coach made him captain at Molineux during their time together there too, so it would make sense that he would be a contender for the role should it end up becoming available.
But first, West Ham have to get a deal done. Wolves want £45million, and if the Hammers are willing to go that high then it may be worthwhile just paying up to avoid competition from the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United.
In other West Ham news, the club have been offered a £150k p/w defender for a cut-price transfer.
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