West Ham United chase Nehuen Perez deal as buy-back option twist emerges in transfer race
Atletico Madrid have a buy-back option on Nehuen Perez as West Ham look at signing the defender, The Telegraph reports.
According to Mike McGrath and James Ducker for the paper’s website on 18 June the Spanish giants can bring back the Udinese centre-back thanks to a clause in the deal which took him to Serie A permanently two years ago.
The Hammers are reportedly joined by multiple other Premier League sides with interest in the Argentina international, as well as the likes of AC Milan.
Perez, 23, is said to be open to a London Stadium move [Ian Abrahams, 10 June], with a £13.5million bid on the cards [talkSPORT, 11 June].
Atletico Madrid can re-sign West Ham target
Julen Lopetegui is likely to need at least a couple of centre-back signings this summer and since a push to reunite him with his former Wolves man Max Kilman is going to be expensive [BBC Sport, 18 June] it could be a useful option to add Perez as well since he is comparatively cheap.
With a host of clubs paying attention it would probably make sense for Tim Steidten to move as quickly as possible since the Argentine is apparently prepared to make the move.
In light of having already missed out on Fabricio Bruno to a last-minute collapse it would probably be better to find out sooner rather than later if Atletico were to decide to exercise their option and spoilthis pursuit.
Steidten has managed to bring in one attacking recruit in Luis Guilherme so far but the Irons need strengthening in multiple areas.
There is clearly a focus on the defence, while there has long been a need to address the striker position, and while the club had been looking to get multiple deals over the line ready for Julen Lopetegui’s official start date on 1 July [The Sun, 28 May] that is now less than a fortnight away and it is proving easier said than done.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have offered a long-term contract to a player the manager wants.
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