A West Ham transfer plan has taken a potentially fatal blow as a quality target is reduced to tears against England at the Euros.
A big part of West Ham’s summer transfer plan is signing a left-sided player who can operate at left-back and left wingback.
Julen Lopetegui likes to have a squad of versatile players.
And West Ham technical director Tim Steidten has made it clear that will form a big part of the way West Ham operate in the window after the signing of Luis Guilherme.
The Hammers have signed Aaron Cresswell up for another year
But it has been made clear that Cresswell will take on a Mark Noble-esque leadership role in his 10th and final season with West Ham.
Journalist Jacob Steinberg confirmed last weekend a new left-back and left-sided winger is a top priority for West Ham.
West Ham super target versatile elite star again
That has seen the Hammers reignite interest in a player they’ve been linked with for two years.
Filip Kostic looked set join West Ham way in 2022 after impressing against them for Frankfurt.
Steidten looked to try and bring Kostic to the London Stadium again back in January window too.
According to Tutto Juve this week, West Ham are back in for Kostic and have been told by Juventus they can sign him for £8.5 million.
The 31-year-old has not played as much as he would have liked in Italy. But he is an elite player who has been one of Europe’s assist kings over the last five or six years.
Kostic can also play left-back, left wingback, as a traditional left winger and even as a wide left forward.
He can also play on the right wing, cutting in on his phenomenal left foot.
Kostic also adds some experience to what Steidten has insisted will be a young and exciting new-look West Ham team post summer rebuild.
But West Ham’s transfer plan has been hit by a blow as the quality target is reduced to tears at the Euros.
West Ham transfer plan hit by blow as target reduced to tears
Kostic started for Serbia against England in Germany.
He had shown a few nice touches and his obvious quality in a left wing role. But he spent most of his time having to track back to contain Bukayo Saka.
Just before half-time, though, Kostic suddenly dropped to the deck clutching behind his knee area and looking visibly distressed.
After several minutes of treatment Kostic was substituted and walked off the pitch in tears.
The West Ham target looked distraught and got emotional as he was saluted by the Serbia fans.
Kostic looked distraught
He looked like man who knew his tournament might be over. And if he has suffered a significant injury then his chances of a move to West Ham might be over too.
Watching the game on BBC, Alan Shearer said Saka’s display kept Kostic quiet.
“Filip Kostic and Strahinja Pavlovic down that Serbia left hand side don’t know what day it is,” Shearer said.
“Every single time Bukayo Saka gets the ball there is a stepover or a run past them, he’s having huge success down there, keep giving him the ball.”
All eyes now will be on how serious the injury is.
But it could well mean West Ham now look to other targets for the left-sided spots.
