West Ham are eyeing Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka as they look to bolster their right-back position under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
The 26-year-old defender has been a staple at Old Trafford, making 190 appearances for the Red Devils.
However, with United looking to free up some cash for their own summer spending, they might be willing to let him go.
Last season, Vladimir Coufal was West Ham’s go-to right-back, but Lopetegui is keen on overhauling the Hammers’ defense. This month, he made a significant move by signing Max Kilman from Wolves for £40 million.
West Ham’s interest in Wan-Bissaka seems to have intensified following a failed attempt to secure Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui.
West Ham had previously agreed to a £13.5 million deal with Bayern Munich for Mazraoui, with an additional £3 million in add-ons. However, the agreement fell apart due to disagreements on the agent’s side.
With Mazraoui off the table, Manchester United are now in a position to make a move for the Moroccan international.
United’s interest in Mazraoui is reportedly linked to their ability to raise funds by offloading Wan-Bissaka. According to Florian Plettenberg from Sky Sport Germany, United’s asking price for Wan-Bissaka has dropped to between £10 million and £15 million.
Ongoing Negotiations and Future Prospects
While no deal has been finalized yet between West Ham and Manchester United, discussions are expected to start over the weekend.
Wan-Bissaka, who is entering the final year of his contract, has also been linked with Galatasaray recently.
West Ham have already made a splash in the transfer market this window with three notable signings.
Luis Guilherme joined from Palmeiras, Wes Foderingham came in on a free transfer from Sheffield United, and the club had been in the race for Mazraoui before withdrawing.
Manchester United’s Pursuit of Mazraoui
On the flip side, Manchester United are still keen on bringing Mazraoui to Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag, who previously managed Mazraoui at Ajax, views him as a key target.
The Dutch manager is hopeful that Mazraoui can contribute significantly, particularly in helping Brazilian winger Antony find his form.
Mazraoui has made 38 appearances for Bayern Munich since joining them in 2022 and has also featured 28 times for Morocco.