West Ham United at risk of losing Oumar Solet race amid ‘intensive’ transfer talks
West Ham United may be about to lose out on the signing of RB Salzburg star Oumar Solet following a move from German side Stuttgart, according to Bild.
The report (2 August, page 13) indicates that the two sides are close to an agreement.
It comes after reports that Solet has been released from training with the Salzburg first team in recent days (Salzburger Nachrichten, 31 July).
A blessing in disguise for West Ham?
There’s no denying that Solet has been a big target. After all, it’s been nearly a month since they first made contact about getting a deal done. With that being said, one of the big worries for many has been the injury problems that plagued Solet’s season for Salzburg in 2023/24.
He made just 24 appearances in all competitions (FBref) with knee and thigh issues hampering him. He’s more than good enough to compete at the elite level but with these problems being so prevalent at the age of 24, you have to wonder how he’d be able to handle the physicality of the Premier League.
Plus, Julen Lopetegui has already been making significant moves in the transfer window. His aim has been to strengthen the squad defensively after a poor campaign at the back. Statistically, they allowed 74 goals to fly in over the course of just 38 games. It’s not ideal if Stuttgart gets the last laugh, but it certainly isn’t the end of the world.
In other West Ham news, the club is preparing to walk away from striker transfer talks.
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