West Ham United transfer news as Juventus name Filip Kostic price
West Ham will have to pay between £12.8million and £17.1million if they want to sign Juventus winger Filip Kostic, with a loan move off the cards, according to Mirko Di Natale.
The TuttoJuve journalist shared via his personal Twitter account that, for now, there have been no offers sent by the Hammers, but Juventus will only let him go if they receive their asking price.
Previous reports had suggested that the deal would cost upwards of £20million [Sky Sports, 31 August], but that price now seems to be lower, after it was also suggested a loan deal could be targeted, which is now off the table.
He could cover multiple bases
Kostic is able to play as a winger, as he often has for Juventus, but can also provide cover as a left-sided wing-back, with a wicked left foot able to deliver crosses as well as strike the ball from distance, and he could fit perfectly into Moyes’ system, should he change to a back three.
There have been suggestions that, following the arrival of Konstantinos Mavropanos from Stuttgart, Moyes could depart from his current system to incorporate the Greek defender alongside current first-choice duo Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.
This would allow Kostic to slot in at wing-back, where his attacking intent and drive could see him perfectly balance out the side, with the more defensive-minded Vladimir Coufal a mainstay at right-back under Moyes.
The Serbian doesn’t necessarily fit in with the targeted outline at West Ham, with the club looking to sign younger full-backs to prepare for a future without Coufal or Aaron Cresswell, but a player of his experience and quality is a difficult one to pass up.
In other West Ham news, the club are eyeing a £20million move for a striker from an English club.