West Ham United have pulled out of the race to sign coveted OGC Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo, according to Calciomercato.
The Hammers are undergoing a defensive revamp and had registered an interest in the defender who has become a hot commodity this summer.
Nice are open to selling Todibo but are holding out for at least £35 million, which forced West Ham to reconsider their interest in the defender.
The Hammers launched an initial £30m bid for Todibo, but it was quickly turned down by Nice.
West Ham then turned their attention to Max Kilman, who was a priority target for new manager Julen Lopetegui.
Wolverhampton Wanderers turned down an initial £25m offer before both clubs agreed on a £40m deal for the experienced English defender.
With Kilman on board, West Ham felt comfortable letting go of their pursuit of Todibo, who is now reportedly setting his sights on a move to Serie A giants Juventus.
While we couldn’t offer European football, reports suggest Todibo was not opposed to the idea of moving to the London Stadium.
However, West Ham were reluctant to match Nice’s demands, and Lopetegui’s preference for Kilman ultimately sealed the deal.
West Ham need another centre-back
Kilman’s quality and leadership are unquestionable. Landing his signature is a coup, but we must bolster the defence further with the addition of another centre-back.
Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma are facing uncertain futures at the London Stadium, and at least one is expected to leave the club this summer.
There’s a decent chance both players will be shown the door, and with the earlier departure of stalwart Angelo Ogbonna, it’s crucial that we sign another defender to partner Kilman at the heart of the defence.
We’ve been linked with a move for Hull City talent Jacob Greaves and Olympique Lyon centre-back Jake O’Brien.
Either would be a decent addition to the squad, contributing to a revamped defence that could be the backbone for a potential European push next season.