Former Arsenal defender set to join West Ham with deal in final stages
By Evan Curnew
West Ham have ultimately pulled out of negotiations for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire as the English defender stalled on move from Old Trafford. A deal was agreed between the two clubs, but it seems as though Maguire wants to fight for his place in Erik ten Hag’s side.
The Hammers are looking to upgrade their centre-back partnership and find someone to play alongside Nayef Aguerd. Kurt Zouma is currently holding down that position, but with Europa League on the cards, the club likely wants to find another right-sided centre-back capable of playing big minutes. After the Harry Maguire debacle, West Ham look to have found an alternative target.
Konstantinos Mavropanos is on the verge of signing for West Ham from Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart. Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany reports a fee in the range of £17m, plus add-ons will be the final fee. A deal has been agreed to in principle between the two clubs, and Mavropanos is expected to travel to London soon. He has been left out of Sttugart’s match against Bochum ahead of his medical this week.
The Greek defender is formerly of Arsenal, having joined the Gunners in 2018. After three consecutive loan spells in Germany, Mavropanos signed permanently with Stuttgart from Arsenal last summer after the club activated his option-to-buy clause. Konstantinos Mavropanos has solidified himself as a highly-rated defender in the Bundesliga and subsequently is now a regular call-up for the Greek National Team. TalkSport is reporting that Arsenal holds a 10% sell-on clause for Mavropanos, meaning the club will net some cash in the player’s move to fellow London side West Ham United.
Assuming the deal is completed, Mavropanos will be the second Stuttgart player to join a Premier League side in short order. As The Top Flight covered just days ago, Liverpool has signed Wataru Endo from the Bundesliga club.