PreZero Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - March 26, 2022, Germany's Thilo Kehrer during the warm up.
West Ham United’s move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Thilo Kehrer has reached an ‘advanced’ stage.
That’s according to Dharmesh Sheth, a reporter and presenter for Sky Sports News.
The lowdown
25-year-old Kehrer is predominantly a centre-back but he can also provide cover in the right-back and defensive midfield positions.
The German is into the final 12 months of the deal with the reigning French champions.
West Ham have already signed a centre-half this summer in the form of Nayef Aguerd, but he’s out until October with an ankle injury.
The latest
Sheth wrote on Twitter that West Ham had agreed the broad terms of a £10.1million-plus deal with PSG and were now negotiating over the specific payment structure.
“West Ham United in advanced talks with PSG over the signing of defender Thilo Kehrer,” he said. “Structure of deal being finalised. Fee under discussion thought to be €12m plus add-ons. Kehrer has entered the final year of his contract.”
In an update on live on Sky Sports News, Sheth added that it ‘would be quite a coup’, because another of Kehrer’s suitors – Sevilla – can offer Champions League football.
The verdict
Kehrer would be a smart addition for West Ham.
He has experience of playing at the very highest level – with 20 caps for Germany and 20 Champions League appearances for PSG – and should be able to compete for a starting place.
National team boss Hansi Flick has described him as a ‘complete player‘, an endorsement that will surely excite West Ham supporters.
And, as if to make it an even better move, they’re seemingly about to sign him for a cut-price fee as a result of his contract situation.
Aguerd’s injury left West Ham with a gap to fill, and it’s hard to think of too many smarter solutions.
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