West Ham are weighing up a transfer for AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori, amid a failed bid to land former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante.
The Hammers, below new boss Julen Lopetegui, noticed their shock £15million bid for the Al-Ittihad star rebuffed final week. Kante, 33, is regarded as joyful in Saudi Arabia however might be tempted by a transfer again to the Premier League.
It’s believed Lopetegui needed to signal the midfielder throughout his spell at Actual Madrid however a deal by no means got here to fruition.
A possible transfer to West Ham would finish Kante’s keep in Saudi Arabia having joined Al-Ittihad on a two-year-deal value £172m after leaving Chelsea upon the expiry of his contract in the summertime of 2023.
In the meantime, the London membership are contemplating a transfer for one more former Blues star in Tomori following his promising campaigns in Serie A with the Rossoneri.
Al-Ittihad rejected West Ham’s opening provide of £15m for midfielder N’Golo Kante final week
Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori is of curiosity to the Hammers on this summer time window
The 26-year-old defender has made 142 appearances for Milan since his £24m transfer in 2021.
Tomori, who has been capped 5 occasions at worldwide degree, was not thought-about for Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 England squad, regardless of spectacular showings within the Italian top-flight.
He helped AC clinch the Serie A title in his debut season below former head coach Stefano Pioli.
Pioli left the membership on the finish of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, with former Lille boss Paulo Fonseca taking cost.
And Tomori, who additionally loved mortgage spells with Derby, Hull and Brighton throughout his adolescence, admitted that his position could also be totally different below Fonseca.
‘Rather a lot is altering,’ he stated. ‘Clearly, there’s a new coach, we’ve new concepts and a superb environment. We’re working exhausting and are excited proper now.’
West Ham’s curiosity in Tomori comes after they had been near signing him on mortgage in 2020 however the defender rejected the prospect to maneuver to the membership simply minutes earlier than the tip of the switch window.
He revealed that he determined to remain at Stamford Bridge to additional his growth.
Talking on the Chelsea Mike’d Up podcast in 2020, Tomori stated: ‘I had a plan going into this season going off the again of final season.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui is hoping to safe reinforcements forward of the brand new season
‘Clearly, in soccer, issues change so rapidly so I needed to ensure no matter determination I made was actually thought out and to attempt to do what’s greatest for me.
‘I made the choice ultimately to remain, to enhance extra, get some extra video games, achieve some extra expertise and attempt to get to the degrees I used to be finally season.