West Ham United well short of PSG asking price for Thilo Kehrer amid Attila Szalai deal collapse
West Ham are short by €8million in their bid to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Thilo Kehrer, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
The German international has a year left on his current contract with the French champions but they apparently still want €20million for him [£16.9million], while the Hammers have so far offered as much as €12million [£10.1million].
Plettenberg reports that Fenerbahce’s 24-year-old centre-back Attila Szalai is the alternative if Kehrer proves to be too expensive and that talks have taken place with the Turkish giants.
He wrote on his personal Twitter account on Saturday (13 August): “Attila Szalai: Next to Kehrer West Ham is considering a transfer of the 24 y/o centre back from Fenerbahce.
“He is the alternative.Talks between WHUFC and Szalai took place.
“Paris wants €20m for Kehrer. West Ham offers €10-12m first round.”
However, while the Irons were also after the Hungarian Szalai from the Turkish Super Lig, the outlet Fotomac in that country has already reported that the talks have broken down as they were unwilling to meet the asking price there either.
Seller’s market
The problem for West Ham is that they are looking to pick up a relatively cheap answer to a problem they thought they had already addressed.
They spent heavily to sign their top defensive target earlier in the window by bringing in Moroccan international Nayef Aguerd, intending to sell odd man out Issa Diop as a result.
The new arrival’s injury, coupled with one for Craig Dawson, and Diop’s unwillingness to wait around when a move was on the table, are a set of circumstances that have forced them back into the market at the position late in the window.
But both PSG and Fenerbahce know this so they are likely hoping to capitalise of what is a bit of a desperate situation at the London Stadium.
The Ligue 1 side have a number of players that they need to get rid of, but as Everton have learned with their held-up attempt to re-sign Idrissa Gueye [90min], they seem to want to play hard-ball anyway at the Parc des Princes.
Fener aren’t ready to lose Szalai easily either, so in both cases they can set a price above what they might otherwise ask and sit back while the Hammers sweat.
With the window approaching they know that the pressure is on the buyer, as proven by hundreds of deadline day deals every season.
£16million is more than the club would like to spend on another defender but Kehrer appears to be the best of the mooted options, but if the €8million gap can be narrowed without being entirely closed there is probably scope for a deal that satisfies both sides.