West Ham pushing hard for agreement with centre-back Liverpool were offered in January. West Ham United and Liverpool are likely to be busy on the transfer front over the coming weeks.
The Hammers have already made three signings this summer, while the Reds are yet to get off the mark. Both West Ham and Liverpool will be eager to bolster their respective ranks to give their new managers the chance to hit the ground running.
Now, a report has emerged claiming the Hammers are pushing hard to reach agreement with a centre-back Liverpool were offered earlier this year.
West Ham eyeing ‘long-time’ Liverpool target Oumar Solet
The player in question is Red Bull Salzburg defender Oumar Solet.
According to Sports Zone, he is West Ham’s new priority at centre-back after failing to land Jean-Clair Todibo. Just after the January transfer window closed, Fabrizio Romano claimed that Liverpool turned down the opportunity to sign Solet.
“They were offered a nice possibility, an interesting opportunity with Oumar Solet at Salzburg as new centre-back,” Romano said on the Here We Go Podcast.
“A player that they have been scouting for a long time.
“Obviously, the German director of Liverpool (Jorg) Schmadtke knows the player so well, so there were discussions internally this possibility for Oumar Solet.
“Then Liverpool decided not to sign any player, but Solet was one of the names in the list also at Napoli, and also in the list at Lens, then he ended up staying at Salzburg.”
Now, West Ham are said to be pursuing Solet, while fellow claret-and-blue side Aston Villa are apparently in the picture for the 24-year-old.
⚡️FLASH ZONE ⚽️
West Ham pousse très fort pour trouver un accord avec Oumar Solet, leur priorité au poste de défenseur central depuis le refus de Todibo ! 🇫🇷💫
Le français est également suivi par Stuttgart et par Aston Villa. pic.twitter.com/3Iflb54yOn
— SPORTS ZONE (@SportsZone__) July 16, 2024
Who is West Ham target Oumar Solet?
Oumar Solet came through the ranks at French club Stade Lavallois before joining Lyon on an initial loan deal – which then became permanent – in 2018.
Two years later, he linked up with Austrian powerhouses Red Bull Salzburg for a reported £3.8million fee. Solet has made 106 competitive appearances for his side, winning three league titles and an Austrian Cup in the process.
The 6ft 3in defender’s contract runs out in 2025, so this summer is his club’s best chance of recouping a decent fee for his services.
Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig previously described Solet as a “marauding centre-back”, and he certainly looks like a good shout for the Premier League.
