Oumar Solet surprise puts clubs on red alert as West Ham United chase £12m-rated free agent
West Ham are interested in signing free agent Oumar Solet but face heavy competition for his signature after he was released by Red Bull Salzburg, HITC reports.
According to the outlet’s website on 17 September the Hammers are in the running for the defender who put clubs across the continent on “red alert” when he became available at the weekend in a “surprise” development.
European sides Marseille, Inter and Anderlecht have all looked into a deal for the Frenchman, while in England West Ham are joined by Aston Villa, Wolves and Nottingham Forest in the hunt, and all have space in their squads for a late addition.
The £12million-rated centre-back was considered as an alternative during the transfer window before the signing of Jean-Clair Todibo, while Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle also reportedly looked at him.
West Ham signed Jean-Clair Todibo in the summer
On one had it would make perfect sense for the Irons to add Soulet on a free if they were looking to sign him before his unexpected release.
Late loan exits before the deadline for Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd have left Julen Lopetegui one centre-back short after Angelo Ogbonna’s contract expired.
And the club have been in the market for a free agent addition after showing interest in Mats Hummels before he joined Roma [Sean Whetstone, 3 September], holding talks with former Liverpool man Joel Matip [Standard, 2 September], and fielding John Egan in a behind-closed-doors friendly before he signed for Burnley [Whetstone, 5 September].
But if so many other clubs are in the running for Soulet, 24, he is likely to have the pick of some fairly lucrative contracts, especially when there is no transfer fee involved.
And according to ExWHUemployee the club haven’t got space on the wage bill for such a deal after a summer of heavy recruitment [West Ham Way, 14 September].
That would tie up with Lopetegui’s public confirmation that the Irons are now focused on players already at the club and there is an opportunity for academy products to fill the gap, so a Soulet deal might be out of reach.
In other West Ham news, a Hammers ace has confirmed his exit situation after the club desperately tried to get rid of him.
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