Logan Costa ‘waiting’ for West Ham United approach amid Serie A transfer talks
West Ham target Logan Costa is waiting on the Irons to make clear they have “serious intentions” of signing him, according to Il Resto del Carlino.
The Italian outlet reported on 7 August that although Bologna have made an official approach to sign the 23-year-old centre-back, Costa is yet to make a concrete decision on where his future lies.
Like the Hammers, Bologna had also previously expressed interest in Mats Hummels [Florian Plettenberg, 6 August] but have since turned their attention to Costa, with Toulouse wanting £12.9million for the Cape Verdean International.
However, the Italian side only intend to pay roughly £11m for the defender having after a loan-to-buy offer was ignored, and that hesitation could benefit the Irons if their interest does match that of Costa’s.
West Ham almost ready to push button on Logan Costa transfer
Central defence is one of several position set to undergo a sea-change at the London Stadium during Julen Lopetegui’s first transfer window in charge, and signing Costa could well complete the set.
Lopetegui’s former Wolves captain Max Kilman is already through the doors at a cost of £40m, but the Irons boss is still keen on bringing in another centre-back to partner the Englishman next season.
Incumbents Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd both look increasingly likely to move on this summer, with the former, West Ham’s current captain, reportedly close to a deal with a side in the United Arab Emirates [Santi Aouna, 6 August].
Selling Aguerd, however, looks less straightforward given the Moroccan’s personal terms are putting clubs off [Sean Whetstone, 6 August], but as the window ticks towards a close, a deal could still be struck for the defender.
Those impending departures will open up spots to be filled alongside Kilman in Lopetegui’s new-look Hammers defence, and if he decides Costa is the man to take up the mantle, he’ll have to get a move on.
A move for Jean-Clair Todibo seems increasingly unlikely the longer that transfer saga drags on [GiveMeSport, 5 August], but the true answer to Lopetegui’s defensive conundrum could lie in a different area of Southern France.
In other West Ham news, Fabrizio Romano has given his verdict on the Irons’ chances of signing a long-term transfer target.
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