Southampton make new Kyle Walker-Peters decision as West Ham United eye summer transfer
Southampton have decided to offer Kyle Walker-Peters a new contract amid transfer interest from West Ham United, according to the Daily Echo.
The outlet reported on its website on Saturday (20 July) that the Saints have offered an extension to the defender following their promotion back to the Premier League via the playoffs last season.
No new deal has yet been agreed with the 27-year-old considering his options this summer after the Hammers looked to include him in the deal which saw Flynn Downes return to St Mary's.
As quoted by the Echo, Russell Martin said: "Kyle's been offered and we are in discussions with him.
"There's always been that understanding that we respect each other, and he would give us that. Now he wants to assess the situation in this transfer window and see.
"I don't have any problem with that at all. He knows we want him. He knows we want to keep him. But if we can't, then we will get enough money for him that we think it's good business.
"Otherwise, he just won't leave the building."
Will West Ham United sign Kyle Walker-Peters amid Southampton exit speculation?
West Ham are certainly in the market for a new right back to provide some competition to Vladimir Coufal this summer, but Walker-Peters isn't the only target on the Irons' agenda at this moment in time.
Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has also been linked with a move to the London Stadium and there is a belief that the Hammers may be able to sign him for a low transfer fee towards the end of the window [Dharmseh Sheth, 19 July].
If that deal is completed, it will all but end the Hammers' interest in Walker-Peters.
They don't have millions of pounds to spend this summer on new recruits and they are therefore unlikely to buy two new right backs.
Whether or not the Irons return for the Saints defender will almost completely depend on what happens in their talks with United in the coming weeks. Hopefully, Julen Lopetegui will get one of these deals over the line.
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