Tim Steidten wants Oumar Solet at West Ham United as Julen Lopetegui makes demand
West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui has asked Tim Steidten to find a defensive partner for Max Kilman already, according to HITC.
The online source reported [30 July] that the Hammers have opened talks with RB Salzburg over a potential deal for Oumar Solet, with the technical director seeing him as a “genuine” alternative option to Jean-Clair Todibo.
The Irons are not the only team interested, with it understood that Villarreal have formalised their interest in Solet and have submitted a bid already.
West Ham United to sign Oumar Solet over Jean-Clair Todibo
The 24-year-old has certainly gone under the radar, despite having made 106 appearances since leaving Lyon in the summer of 2020.
Solet was unable to make the desired impact in Ligue 1, and having switched to life in Austria, he has now become a very important player for the 17-time Austrian Bundesliga champions.
While missing out on Todibo would be quite a big blow, boasting football with Nice, Barcelona, Schalke, and the France national team, Solet does not look like an awful alternative.
Lopetegui seems to have made defensive reinforcements a key target in the summer transfer market, having already added Wolves’ captain Kilman to the ranks in a £40million deal [BBC Sport].
However, with Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Konstantinos Mavropanos still in the squad, it is no wonder that he has asked Steidten to find a new target already.
Only Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United conceded more Premier League goals than the Hammers last term, with David Moyes’ defensive style of play given a scathing review throughout the campaign.
While Solet is not quite as experienced as Todibo, he became a regular France Under-19s figure during his youth days and is now a trusted defender in Salzburg.
Given the current centre-back situation at the London Stadium, West Ham could be urged to take a chance on the 24-year-old.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have been handed an Ivan Toney transfer boost as a Manchester United update emerges.
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