West Ham United can forget about January move for Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters
West Ham should forget about wasting any time on trying to sign Kyle Walker-Peters from Southampton if the full-back’s reported valuation is anything to go by.
The Hammers could do with strengthening in both wide defensive areas in either the January window or in the summer.
In Walker-Peters, they would be signing a player capable of playing in both of those positions, perhaps explaining the recent links [talkSPORT, 14 December].
However, while the 26-year-old is clearly a talent and would tick plenty of boxes – not least his versatility – it was reported by Claret & Hugh on Saturday (16 December) that he may command a fee of around £30million.
United are certainly not against spending that sort of money on a player if they feel he is good value for money.
Indeed, they spent at least that figure this summer alone on three different players in James Ward-Prowse, Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez.
The problem is, though, the large amount splashed out was offset by Declan Rice’s £105m switch to Arsenal, and that money has now been well and truly eaten up.
Just how much money David Moyes has available in January, if any at all, remains to be seen. If funds are freed up, though, it will almost certainly not be anywhere near the region of £30m.
In fact, that may even be the case come next summer unless one or two players are moved on first.
It therefore makes little sense in pursuing a move for Walker-Peters at that price when it is quite clear a deal will not be reached with Southampton.
If the Hammers do like the look of the twice-capped England international, then all they can do for now is start saving up and hope they are better positioned to land him at some point in the future.
For now, Moyes will just have to rely largely on Emerson and Vladimir Coufal to continue operating in the full-back positions.
In other West Ham news, a Sky Sports reporters has shared a “very welcome” United development ahead of January.