West Ham United
Premier League • England
West Ham mobilise quadruple raid with Filip Kostic bid tabled; talks ongoing with Liverpool target and two strikers
West Ham have quickly shrugged off their David Raum disappointment by lodging a bid for Filip Kostic, and the Serbian is just one of four David Moyes is pursuing.
The Hammers had been in discussions with Hoffenheim over a deal to sign David Raum. Left-back is an area Moyes is seeking to address this summer, though RB Leipzig have emerged as the odds-on favourites to land the Germany international.
Indeed, Fabrizio Romano reported a deal is advanced and could be confirmed within a matter of days.
However, West Ham aren’t content to let that disappointment define their left-back search. Indeed, The Sun and Sky Sports both report a bid has been lodged for Eintracht Frankfurt star, Filip Kostic.
Kostic will be a familiar name to Hammers fans after starting both legs of their Europa League semi-final clash with Frankfurt last season.
The 29-year-old Serbian played as a winger earlier in his career, but has since been converted into a wing-back.
Unsurprisingly, the attacking side of the game is where he excels and Kostic notched seven goals and 15 assists in just 42 outings last term.
The Sun report a bid has been tabled, though don’t specify at what price. However, West Ham may not need to stretch to the £30m+ figures it would’ve required to sign Raum.
Kostic is in his late 20s and only has one year remaining on his contract at Frankfurt. Sky confirm the Sun’s reporting, while Romano also tweeted the bid has been lodged.
Kostic one of four deals in the pipeline
Aside from signing an upgrade on the ageing Aaron Cresswell, the Sun report three more deals are in the works.
Firstly, talks are said to be ongoing regarding Liverpool midfield target, Amadou Onana.
The 20-year-old Belgium international plays in France for Lille and the Athletic recently confirmed he is high on Liverpool’s radar. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp was deemed to be one of Onana’s ‘strongest’ admirers.
However, it is West Ham who are mobilising, with talks reportedly being held over his transfer to the capital.
Elsewhere, striker pair Armando Broja and Gianluca Scamacca are also being discussed.
Chelsea frontman Broja could cost around £30m if the Blues decide to sever ties. The hold-up at present stems from Chelsea not yet deciding whether they wish to axe the Albanian. A loan with an option to buy next summer has also been touted.
Scamacca, meanwhile, has been the subject of a £34m Hammers bid, according to Sky Sports News.
Sassuolo reportedly want over £42m for the six-foot-five colossus. Regardless, they claimed talks remain positive despite the initial rejection.
Big weeks ahead for West Ham
Moyes got three pieces of business on the defensive end wrapped up early.
Alphonse Areola turned his loan move permanent. Nayef Agued – who has since picked up an ankle injury that could rule him out for two months – joined at centre-back, while Flynn Downes added to the engine room.
However, Nottingham Forest pipped the Hammers to Lingard and other additions of a more attacking nature haven’t yet materialised.
West Ham have another European campaign to juggle next season and must bolster their ranks if they’re to compete on multiple fronts.
Transfer success in the coming weeks could define how West Ham fare in the latter stages of the campaign.