Transfer Centre

Lopetegui reunion inbound: West Ham 'on brink' of £40m signing with medical booked

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 04 July 2024

Key Lopetegui target 'to undergo West Ham medical' ahead of £40m transfer

West Ham United reportedly agree a £40m package to sign a Premier League defender, who is set to undergo a medical on Thursday ahead of completing his transfer to the London Stadium.

West Ham United have reportedly reached an agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign defender Max Kilman.

The 27-year-old has spent the last six seasons at Molineux and has developed into as an integral first-team player in recent years, making 151 appearances for the club across all tournaments.

Kilman, a fans' favourite at Molineux, was appointed Wolves captain last summer shortly before signing a new five-year contract and he was a mainstay in Gary O'Neil's side last season.

The 6ft 4in centre-back played the full 90 minutes in all 38 Premier League matches as Wolves secured a 14th-placed finish, ending the campaign five places and six points behind West Ham in ninth.

Kilman's consistent form is understood to have caught the eye of several English clubs over the last 12 months, including West Ham who are now managed by former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui.

Last month, West Ham allegedly failed with an opening offer of £25m for Kilman, with Wolves insisting that they would only entertain offers of at least £40m.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Max Kilman during the warm-up on April 20, 2024 [IMAGO] © Imago

Newcastle United then came forward with a player-plus-cash bid for Kilman, including home-grown midfielder Elliot Anderson, but the offer was swiftly turned down by Wolves and Anderson has since joined Nottingham Forest.

The Magpies have decided to turn their attention to other targets, but West Ham have returned with an improved offer and according to multiple reports, including one from journalist Fabrizio Romano, a £40m package has now been agreed.

Romano adds that Kilman was identified by Lopetegui as a 'key target' and the defender is set to undergo a medical on Thursday ahead of finalising his transfer to the London Stadium.

It is understood that Kilman's former club Maidenhead United will receive 10% of the transfer fee - around £4m - after they inserted a sell-on clause when selling the Englishman to Wolves.

West Ham have stepped up their pursuit of Kilman following the departure of Angelo Ogbonna upon the expiration of his contract on June 30.

Should Kilman complete his big-money switch to West Ham, he will compete with captain Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos for regular starts at the heart of defence.

West Ham have already completed two signings this summer, recruiting highly-rated teenage attacker Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras for a reported £25m and experienced goalkeeper Wes Foderingham from Sheffield United on a free transfer.