LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 10: Julen Lopetegui, manager of West Ham United, looks on before the pre-season friendly match between West Ham United and Celta Vigo at the London Stadium on August 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
West Ham are among the clubs showing an interest in Oumar Solet, according to reports after the defender terminated his contract with Austrian side RB Salzburg.
Despite major investment in the summer that saw the likes of Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Crysencio Summerville arrive at the club, the Hammers have endured a difficult start to the campaign.
Julen Lopetegui has managed just one win in his opening four games and will be looking to get his new charges back to winning ways in the London derby against Chelsea on Saturday midday.
West Ham interested in Solet
The transfer window may have closed, but that hasn’t stopped the Hammers from being linked with players.
Despite signing two centre-backs this summer in Kilman and Todibo, West Ham lost Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Nayef Aguerd, leaving them slightly light at the back.
Reports had linked them with a move for free agent and former Liverpool defender Joel Matip, but nothing has progressed.
However, a new name could be on the way to the London Stadium and HITC have reported that the Hammers are among the clubs interested in Solet.
The report adds that fellow Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Wolves and Nottingham Forest are interested, while Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs looked at Solet during the summer.
The 24-year-old joined RB Salzburg from French side Lyon in 2020 and made 106 appearances for the club before terminating his contract last weekend, for reasons that are not yet entirely clear.
Solet has experience in the Champions League and would be a shrewd piece of business for a club looking for a centre-back, plus due to his age there is also the added factor that the player has been sold for value.
Solet appears to have no shortage of suitors, so if West Ham are serious about making a move, they will need to act quickly to beat off the competition.
Top photo by Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
