West Ham United fans have already seen their club change in various ways this summer.
From the departure of David Moyes to the additions of players such as Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme, it’s clear that the Hammers mean business this term.
Although the club finished ninth in the Premier League last season, there’s still plenty of room for improvement, particularly in their back line.
Granted, the addition of Kilman will no doubt help sure up the defence but further additions will likely be required if the Hammers want to find themselves in Europe once again.
As Ben Johnson chose to depart the London Stadium upon the expiry of his contract, one area of defence that should be a priority is that of right-back.
Julen Lopetegui’s side has recently been linked with a move for Southampton ace Kyle Walker-Peters [Fabrizio Romano, 3 July] and there have even been murmurs of Flynn Downes going the opposite way.
Although a deal is yet to be agreed, the Saints have seemingly already brought a replacement in for the former Tottenham man.
That is according to Dutch outlet Transfer Watch who reported on 9 July that PSV right-back Yukinari Sugawara is set for a move to St Mary’s.
Kyle Walker-Peters to seal West Ham United transfer
Russell Martin’s men themselves only have Walker-Peters and James Bree within their ranks who can naturally play at right-back.
This made a deal difficult to strike for the Hammers as the former Tottenham man has been their first choice for the last couple of seasons.
But now, thanks to the soon-to-be-confirmed addition of Sugawara, the Saints might be a little more lenient in terms of negotiations.
The addition of the right-back would no doubt put many fans’ minds at ease and ensure that they have substantial cover for the 2024/25 season.
Only time will tell whether or not a move will come to fruition but this will be a transfer saga to keep a close eye on.
