According to Florian Plettenburg, Paris Saint-Germain defender Thilo Kehrer will join West Ham after a deal was finally agreed.
What’s the story?
Well, the east Londoners have been in talks with PSG for a few weeks now over a deal for the Germany international, but an agreement has now been reached.
Plettenburg – a journalist for Sky Germany – believes Kehrer has agreed personal terms with the Hammers, and the Parisians have shook hands with West Ham on a fee in the region of €16m (£13m).
It represents something of a bargain for the Irons, as PSG paid £33m to sign the centre-back from Schalke 04 in 2018.
So, why is Kehrer so cheap?
Well, the German has already entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Parc des Princes, so unless he is sold now, PSG would lose him for nothing in 2023.
Arsenal also expressed an interest in Kehrer in 2021, and it is safe to say that West Ham have done some solid negotiating for a player who could be worth three times that £13m fee in a few years, if he impresses.
Interest in the £78,000-a-week defender comes after he made 34 appearances in all competitions for PSG last season.
West Ham need Thilo Kehrer to settle quickly
It would be unfair of West Ham to expect big things from Kehrer immediately, as the 25-year-old will be playing his football in England for the first time ever – should the move materialise.
However, David Moyes will need the German to hit the ground running in the current circumstances.
West Ham are currently without Nayef Aguerd, Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson, all of whom are out injured.
As a result, there will be a lot of pressure on Kehrer to shore up West Ham’s defence, especially after the Hammers suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening two games of the Premier League campaign.
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