West Ham United continue to be linked with Guillermo Maripan.
According to Chilean newspaper La Cuarta, West Ham United are preparing a new bid to sign Alaves defender Guillermo Maripan.
Despite seeing Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena impress this past season, Manuel Pellegrini is still keen to bring in another centre back – and Maripan is his top target.
The 6ft 4in defender has starred in Spain since joining from Universidad Catolica, and Pellegrini now wants his fellow Chilean at the London Stadium.
La Cuarta note that West Ham have already failed with a $13million (£10million) bid for Maripan, but are now returning with a ‘mega offer’ of €17million (£14million).
However, Alaves don’t want to let Maripan go for anything less than his $28million (£22million) release clause, meaning West Ham face a major problem.
The 25-year-old powerhouse would really strengthen West Ham’s options, but it seems more like Pellegrini wanted Maripan as a complement to Diop and Balbuena rather than splashing on a clear first choice.
The required fee is the same price as Diop was last summer, and whether Pellegrini sees Maripan as being that big of a signing remains to be seen, with West Ham’s latest offer unlikely to succeed.
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