West Ham continue in negotiations for Wolves defender, Max Kilman, and are expected to send a new formal proposal soon. They have already had two bids rejected, but Julen Lopetegui is very keen on adding the defender to his squad.
West Ham Have Two Bids Rejected for Wolves Defender, Max Kilman
New Bid Expected Soon
Fabrizio Romano reports that West Ham are “still pushing for Max Kilman”, and are expected to submit a new proposal soon. They recently had a second proposal rejected, which included an exchange player as part of the deal. It is believed that Wolves rate the centre-back very highly, given his importance to the squad as captain and the fact that he also signed a new contract in 2023 which will be valid until June 2028. The club are reluctant to sell and would likely demand a high fee in any negotiations.
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However, the 27-year-old is “highly rated” by Lopetegui, and the manager will likely be the driving force for this transfer. They both worked together during the Spaniard’s tenure at Wolves and this past experience could make the transition to East London much easier, should a transfer go through.
West Ham have already spent a sizeable fee on Luis Guilherme and have been linked with Matias Soule this summer. They appear to be willing to support their new manager with financial backing.
Kilman to Improve West Ham’s Poor Defence
The Hammers leaked 74 goals in the league last season; the only teams that conceded more were the relegated trio of Sheffield United, Luton Town and Burnley. This weak defence is something that fans will hope to see improvement on, going into the 2024/25 campaign. Kilman could bring vital Premier League experience to the West Ham backline, and his previous work with Lopetegui could allow him to settle in very quickly.
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The Englishman was one of only two outfield players to play every minute in the league last season. Since joining Wolves in 2018, Kilman has climbed the ranks in the squad and has now cemented himself as a crucial dressing room figure. If the player was to leave, it would undoubtedly be a difficult hole to replace in the team.
Kilman Also Had Interest From Napoli
In the summer of 2023, Napoli submitted a €35 million bid for Kilman, who they pursued as a replacement for the departing Kim Min-Jae. However, Wolves rejected the offer, demanding at least €40 million. The player then signed a new contract which tied him down until 2028. The Italian outlet finished 9th last year – a fall from grace having won the Scudetto the year prior. They could return to the race for the Premier League centre-back given that they are not priced out by the financial demands.
