Speaking live on talkSPORT’s Jim White and Simon Jordan show, as transcribed by their website, reporter Alex Crook has shared some transfer news out of West Ham United involving Hungary international Attila Szalai.
The Lowdown: West Ham in hunt…
As reliably reported elsewhere, West Ham, manager David Moyes and new head of recruitment Rob Newman have set their sights on the Fenerbahce centre-half.
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Sky Sports first reported that the Irons, Newcastle United and Serie A giants AC Milan are all interested in signing the 24-year-old who played every minute of his nation’s Euro 2020 campaign last summer.
Moyes and West Ham are in the market for new central defenders with talkSPORT reporter Crook now dropping his own update.
The Latest: West Ham in the race…
Backing Sky’s original claim, Crook claims he knows for a ‘fact’ that the Hammers have been following Szalai since as far back as last year and remain in the hunt for his signature.
“They’re in for the Hungarian international Attila Szalai, he was part of the team for last year’s delayed European Championship,” he explained live on talkSPORT.
“I think he played pretty much every minute, if not every minute, for Hungary. Plays his club football for Fenerbahce, would cost around £17million.
“He’s been linked with Chelsea in the past by the Hungarian national team coach [Marco Rossi], I know for a fact West Ham have been tracking him since last summer.”
The Verdict: Good option?
There have been no shortage of links to centre-back options since both Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna picked up serious injuries, and even though the former is nearing a return, it appears Moyes is still looking at potential signings for that area of his squad.
Liverpool’s Nathaniel Phillips, Burnley mainstay James Tarkowski and versatile Man City ace Nathan Ake have been among the most prevalent names targeted by West Ham (The Evening Standard), but Szalai could come as a solid alternative.
The 6 foot 3 powerhouse has drawn comparisons with Premier League star Virgil van Dijk and his fairly young age and seemingly affordable price tag come as other attractive incentives to bid.
In other news: ExWHUemployee backs reports with West Ham now ready to bid for ‘phenomenal’ forward, find out more here.