West Ham United transfer news as Rennes and Nice want to sign Thilo Kehrer in January
Ligue 1 clubs Rennes and OGC Nice have now joined the race to sign West Ham United defender Thilo Kehrer ahead of the January window, according to Santi Aouna.
The Foot Mercato journalist, taking to his personal Twitter account (29 December) that Rennes want to sign the German international on loan until the end of the season and Nice are also interested.
The race for Kehrer’s signature is heating up as the January transfer window approaches with Serie A clubs Roma and AC Milan also wanting to release Kehrer from his situation at the London Stadium (Gazzetta dello Sport print edition, 28 December, page 15).
Aouna posted: “Rennes is trying to get Thilo Kherer on loan until the end of the season.
“Nice is also interested in the West Ham defender. Lots of competition in this file.”
Foot Mercato’s website says that Kehrer saw his future at the London Stadium darken on Thursday night as the Irons won 2-0 away at Arsenal without him.
Exit increasingly likely
Kehrer must clearly be doing something right or he may not be as bad as his career in East London is making him out to be right as he is now wanted by multiple clubs on the continent.
The 27-year-old defender has yet to start a Premier League game this season, with his only four appearances coming from the substitutes’ bench.
Indeed, since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2022 for a £10.1million fee [Sky Sports], Kehrer has started just 29 games in all competitions for the Hammers.
However, West Ham wanting to sell the German on loan remains probably unlikely given they are in need of some cash ahead of the window.
If one club want to sign him on a permanent deal and offers a suitable and reasonable price then West Ham United will certainly listen to it and consider it.
Kehrer is sure to have plans to be involved in the Germany squad for next summer’s Euros but his situation at the London Stadium is making that impossible. A January exit now seems the best solution for both parties.
In other West Ham news, the Irons may now have a clear run at signing a long-term target in the January window.