‘WILLING’: REPORTER SAYS WEST HAM COULD PUSH TO SIGN LONDON RIVAL AFTER HARRY MAGUIRE NEWS

Alex Crook has suggested that David Moyes’ West Ham United could now target Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah after the news about Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.

With a few weeks left before the 2023 summer transfer window slams shut, there is talk that Harry Maguire won’t be joining the London club this summer – it has been suggested that Erik ten Hag wants him to stay at Manchester United.

Trevoh Chalobah - Player profile 23/24 | Transfermarkt

As a result, West Ham need to look at other options, with transfer expert Alex Crook dropping Trevoh Chalobah’s name into the hat, as he told talkSPORT (16/08/23 at 8:55 am).

The talkSPORT reporter suggested that Chelsea are ‘willing to sell’ the 24-year-old this summer, as Todd Boehly’s spending spree at Stamford Bridge nears a staggering £1bn.

Nonetheless, if the Hammers can’t get in Maguire, then another fresh face is needed, especially given that they are spending the Declan Rice money.

Former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos has also been mentioned, with Crook sharing his thoughts on someone else closer to the London Stadium.

“I wonder if West Ham will now arm their chance at Trevoh Chalobah down at Chelsea,” said Crook. “A player I know they are willing to sell this summer

“I think it would take a significant offer. But when we look at West Ham’s recruitment. David Moyes is favouring Premier League-based players. The likes of James Ward-Prowse, McTominay and Harry Maguire.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if they tested the water for Chalobah now.”

West Ham set to be busy

That Declan Rice money is still being used and you would imagine that the Hammers will be busy right up until the summer transfer window slams shut.

Perhaps a few more midfield players need to be added, defensive cover for sure and the attacking department, a goalscorer or two, need to be added.

Either way, after getting off to a slow start, in terms of bringing players in when Rice was sold in July, the Europa League side are now getting a move on.

The le10sport journalist tweeted (16 August) that the Hammers could rival Sheffield United, Lazio, Roma, Lyon and Marseille for the Ligue 1 forward, with Metz demanding a minimum of £17.1million.

Before their promotion, Mikautadze scored 23 goals in 37 Ligue 2 appearances for Metz. Paul Heckingbottom’s side have submitted a £15.3million bid for the forward, but West Ham could rival

West Ham could find themselves in the strongest position to secure this goal machine.

le10sport claim that both Lyon and Marseille are yet to submit a bid for Mikautadze, but Sheffield United’s bid looks to be the front-runner so far

However, if the Hammers wanted to secure the player, they would only have to improve Sheffield’s bid by £1.8million to match Metz’s asking price. While being a prolific scorer in the French second division does not necessarily translate into being good in the Premier League, Mikautadze’s Ligue 1 and Belgian Pro League experience means he’s no stranger to top-flight football.

West Ham will also know that City’s interest will be all the more pressing following the confirmation that Kevin De Bruyne’s latest hamstring injury may require surgery which would rule him out for up to four months.

City are also in talks to sign Rennes’s Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, who was also of interest to West Ham. City are believed to have offered a package of up to £70 million for Paqueta but are expected to come in with an improved offer which will test West Ham given the player’s desire to go.

Under consideration to replace Paqueta at West Ham is the Montpellier striker Elye Wahi who is valued at 35 million euros (£30 million) with the move being led by West Ham’s new technical director, Tim Steidten.

Wahi, 20, has also attracted interest from other clubs, including Chelsea, with Eintracht Frankfurt having already failed in a bid to sign him.