West Ham United have bid accepted following talks with Wolves’ Max Kilman and Nice’s Jean Clair-Todibo

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands that West Ham United are pushing on in the hunt for a new central defender this summer.

West Ham United are understood to have seen offers for defenders Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo knocked back but the club aren’t yet giving up.

We reported earlier this week that West Ham United had made an offer of £25 million for French defender Todibo from French side OGC Nice.

Manchester United are also keen on Todibo but due to Ineos having Nice part of their multi-club ownership model, and with both sides in the Europa League, a deal is looking difficult.

West Ham’s defensive plans as top target emerges

As it stands, West Ham only want one central defender this summer, but it could be two depending on what happens with Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, with the club understood to be happy to move both players on.

Sources have told HITC that Wolves defender Kilman is emerging as the club’s top target this summer and it is our understanding that talks have taken place in recent days.

Wolves had been insisting they want a deal approaching £50million for their captain but West Ham believe have come in and made an offer of around £40million, which Wolves have now accepted.

HITC has also been told that Kilman would be open to moving to the London Stadium amid a possibile reunion with Julen Lopetegui.

Todibo deal remains a possibility and West Ham offer potential swap

As mentioned, United have currently been blocked from signing Todibo, the Nice defender, but the club are still exploring different avenues to overcome this issue with UEFA.

However, the French side are not hanging around and would be willing to accept a £35 million deal with add-ons taking the overall fee to £40 million.

We can exclusively reveal that during talks with Nice, West Ham are understood to have mooted a potential swap deal involving Zouma.

The former Chelsea defender would consider a return to France if the opportunity presented itself after rejecting a potential move to the Saudi Pro League.

However, Zouma’s current deal at the Hammers puts him well beyond Nice’s financial capabilities and that is understood to be major stumbling block to any deal progressing.