West Ham ‘preparing’ audacious swoop for £45m Wolves star as Man City factor emerges

Julen Lopetegui’s arrival at London Stadium has come at a good time for the Hammers as the former UEFA Europa Conference League winners aim to get back in European contention with summer spending.

Ex-Wolves boss Lopetegui is keen to kickstart his squad revamp by raiding his old club, aware of the quality Kilman could immediately add to West Ham’s backline. With Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd, Angelo Ogbonna and Konstantinos Mavropanos already in their ranks, the Hammers don’t exactly lack talent in central defence but the hope is to improve further.

The Guardian reports West Ham want to sign Kilman among at least six signings, with two centre halves, a right-back, a midfielder, a left winger and a striker desired. A third-choice goalkeeper would be preferable, too, but not a necessity as funds are set to be prioritised on key positions.

But there’s a problem, and one Wolves will be relieved to hear. Much like the Old Gold, West Ham must first sell before they can buy and there’s been a hitch in their plans. Star midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who has been linked to Manchester City with an £85 million release clause, is now under investigation by the Football Assocation for alleged breaches of betting rules.

If a footballing ban comes into place, much like Sandro Tonali at Newcastle United and Ivan Toney at Brentford, then Lopetegui won’t be able to gain funds from offloading Paqueta. That’s for a long while, at least, meaning summer spending might have to be kept to a more minimal level, unless other players are sacrificed.

Kilman has played 151 times for Wolves since signing on a free transfer from Maidenhead United in 2018, scoring three and assisting three over that period. Rather crucially, the 27-year-old played every single minute of the 2023/24 Premier League season, proving his reliability throughout a campaign ravaged by injuries.