Hammers challenging La Liga giants for international defender.
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West Ham must do battle with Europa League winners Sevilla and fellow Spanish giants Valencia if they wish to sign Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate, according to talkSPORT.
The Hammers have been linked with a move for the giant 6ft 4in centre-back and it has been reported that they have even made an approach for him. It will be anything but straight forward to secure his signature, though, with two huge La Liga clubs in the hunt for his services.
The 24-year-old’s agent, Saffet Balkan, has made it clear that his client will be on the move this summer, although he also wants to keep his options open for the time being.
“Kouyate is going to play for a big team in Europe. Spanish teams have shown interest in wanting to sign him but there is nothing further,” Balkan told Spanish newspaper Estadio Deportivo.
The mammoth central defender has picked up five caps for Senegal since making his debut in 2012 and played in all six of Anderlecht’s Champions League group stage games in last season’s competition.
Kouyate would certainly be seen as an upgrade for Hammers boss Sam Allardyce who regularly deploys James Tomkins, Winston Reid and James Tomkins at centre-back. However, with plenty of competition for his signature, he will not be a cheap option this summer.
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