West Ham reportedly remain keen on Saint-Etienne star Kevin Malcuit.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford in action with St Etienne’s Kevin Malcuit
According to Sky Sports, West Ham United remain keen on Saint-Etienne defender Kevin Malcuit – despite suggestions that a deal for Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta has been agreed.
Whilst manager Slaven Bilic will be desperate to bring in a new striker this summer, right back is another major area of concern given that Cheikhou Kouyate, Havard Nordtveit and Michail Antonio have all been forced into playing at right back or right wing back this season.
With the summer transfer window drawing ever closer, Tutto Mercato Web report that West Ham have agreed a three-year contract with Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, ahead of him becoming a free agent this summer.
The 32-year-old Argentina international would give the Hammers an experienced option at right back, with more than 200 Premier League appearances and two league titles to his name.
However, with concerns over Zabaleta’s age and recent injury history, West Ham may not be done at right back, as Sky Sports report that the Hammers also remain keen on Saint-Etienne ace Kevin Malcuit.
It’s claimed that West Ham attempted to land Malcuit in January but failed, and will now return to try and sign him again during this summer’s transfer window.
West Ham United’s Sam Byram in action with FC Astra Giurgiu’s Junior Morais
Malcuit, 25, joined Saint-Etienne from Chamois Niortais in 2015, and he has impressed in Ligue 1 with his pace going forward from right back, whilst he also excelled in Saint-Etienne’s recent Europa League ties with Manchester United.
Malcuit could offer something completely different to Zabaleta, but signing both in a double swoop would raise questions about the future of Sam Byram, who joined the club from Leeds in January 2016.
Byram, 23, impressed with Leeds, but has started just eight Premier League games this season, and has been unable to make the position his own despite West Ham’s troubles at right back.
If both Zabaleta and Malcuit both sign, we could see Byram leave West Ham either on loan or permanently this summer in order to seek first-team football, or he could be pushed forward to the right of midfield, where he starred for Leeds under Steve Evans.
Either way, news of West Ham’s interest in a multitude of right backs is not good news for Byram’s prospects, with his development stalling in East London after initially arriving with so much promise.
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