According to The Daily Mail, West Ham and Leicester City are plotting a £10 million bid for Getafe’s Djene Dakonam.
The Hammers are trying hard to sign Burnley’s James Tarkowski this summer. David Moyes’ side initially failed with a bid of a £20m plus £10m in add-ons or £23m up front to sign the 27-year-old defender (Sky Sports).
West Ham returned with another bid of £30 million yesterday, but that remains a long way off the Clarets’ £50 million valuation (Sky Sports).
Leicester, on the other hand, are eyeing a move for St Etienne’s teenage defender Wesley Fofana (90min). The Foxes want to sign a new centre-half before the transfer window ends next month but a move for the Ligue 1 youngster isn’t straightforward.
Fofana has revealed he wants to join Leicester this summer, who have already tabled a £27 million bid (L’Equipe). However his current boss, Claude Puel, has no intention of letting him leave, which could ruin a potential deal for the Foxes (CalcioMercato).
Leicester and West Ham’s alternative target seems to be Djene. The Togolese defender was linked to both clubs last summer but ended up staying at Getafe. However, he seems to have made up his mind now about a move to the Premier League.
Djene’s agent, Nico Onisse, spoke to Marca about the reported interest in his client and it looks as though the Getafe man wants a new challenge after three years in Spain.
He said: “Djene knows exactly what he owes to Getafe, its president, the coach, the fans. But, after three years at the club (and) being an ambitious player, he would very much like to show the English it isn’t necessary to measure 1.90m to be a great central defender there.”
If Djene really is available for £10 million, the move is a no-brainer. However, West Ham and Leicester are unlikely to move for him if they bag their priority defensive targets.
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