West Ham United want unbeaten Odilon Kossounou amid transfer collapse fears in Brazil
West Ham are interested in signing Odilon Kossounou to help address their defensive issues, according to Roshane Thomas.
The Athletic journalist reported via the outlet’s website on 4 June that while there remains a five-year deal in the offing for Brazilian centre-back Fabricio Bruno there are fears that the deal is set to be hijacked by a higher offer from the Saudi Pro League.
Kossounou, who made 34 total appearances for Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side which nearly went unbeaten throughout their entire campaign, is one of the alternative defensive options at the London Stadium, with interest also in Wolves’ Max Kilman and Burnley’s Maxime Esteve.
The German won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal double without losing a game, while Ivorian international Kossounou was on the bench for the Europa League final defeat to Atalanta, meaning he didn’t lose a club game all season.
Tim Steidten to return to Germany for West Ham deal if Patricio Bruno deal fails?
There has already been more than enough drama around the Irons’ attempted transfer dealings in Brazil, with the Bruno move seemingly now out of reach despite once looking close, and a big-money deal for teenage attacker Luis Guilherme rescued from a similar fate but still uncertain [Nizaar Kinsella, 3 June].
Since David Moyes’ defensive steel evaporated last season it is little surprise that West Ham are looking to make moves in defence, and with senior pair Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd both potentially leaving Tim Steidten could return to the Bundesliga for a replacement.
The German brought in Konstantinos Mavropanos from Stuttgart at year ago, and in light of the stunning campaign under Alonso at the BayArena it is little surprise there is interest in the Spaniard’s squad.
Kossounou isn’t the only part of the Leverkusen defence that has been linked to West Ham, with the Irons said to have also watched teammate Jonathan Tah a number of times last term [HITC, 25 March].
The club were reportedly in talks over a potential move for Kossounou last year amid Moyes’ frustrated attempts to sign Harry Maguire from Manchester United [Alan Nixon, 15 August].
And it looks like they have found themselves in a similar position already this summer with the derailed attempt to sign Bruno, so they may be moved to follow through on a deal now the Leverkusen man is a Bundesliga champion, although that success isn’t likely to have seen his price tag drop.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have outbid the Germans with an eight-figure offer for a new signing this summer.
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