James Jones
Julen Lopetegui seems eager to work with Max Kilman again, with a third proposal to sign the defender from Wolves expected imminently.
That’s according to notorious transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, who revealed on X that the Hammers are still “pushing” for the 27-year-old and that Lopetegui “wants” him.
The Spanish boss worked with Kilman during his tenure as Wolves manager, so it’s no real surprise he’s not giving up on signing him just yet. It’s no secret that managers like to bring players they like and trust into clubs when they first join.
West Ham have already failed with two previous proposals sent to Wolves, who reportedly value Kilman at around £35m. The second, as revealed by Romano, also included a player as part of the deal, which was ultimately rejected by the Midlands outfit.
There are no indications on the identity of the player West Ham offered to Wolves as a way of sweetening the deal, but it’s likely to be one of the fringe players.
The Hammers do face competition in the race for Kilman, though, with Newcastle also reportedly having proposals knocked back by Wolves in recent weeks. They also offered a player-plus-cash deal – thought to be Elliot Anderson – but Wolves and Gary O’Neil appear to be desperate for their club captain to remain at Molineux.
Despite Newcastle’s interest, West Ham may still hold the advantage given Kilman and Lopetegui have worked with each other in the past. That’s not a guarantee, though, so West Ham’s third proposal will need to be a seriously attractive one to ensure they get their man.
