West Ham tipped to beat Stoke to FC Porto defender

Rob McCarthy

West Ham are being tipped to beat Stoke City to the summer signing of FC Porto defender Bruno Martins-Indi.

The Holland international spent last season on loan with the Potters and Mark Hughes’ men had been tipped to make the move a permanent one.

However, according to reports in the Portuguese press, Stoke have not been prepared to cough up the €10m that Porto want for the 25-year-old.

That has opened the door for the Hammers, with boss Slaven Bilic said to have been impressed with the player during that loan spell last season.

West Ham have so far only brought in Pablo Zabaleta on a free from Manchester City and Bilic is still looking to add defensive reinforcements as well a top class striker this summer.