Report: West Ham to complete £16m signing before Premier League clash

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West Ham reportedly hope to wrap up the signing of Thilo Kehrer before this weekend’s Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion, with David Moyes currently only having one fit centre-back in the entire squad.

According to the Guardian, the Hammers are closing on a £16m deal to sign the Germany international from PSG, with Kehrer set to become West Ham’s fifth new arrival of the summer as the east London side looks to bolster their defensive options for the new season.

Kurt Zouma currently remains West Ham’s only fit centre-back with Ben Johnson slotting in alongside the Frenchman in the opening two games of the Premier League season, both of which the Irons lost as Moyes’ side currently sit 19th in the standings.

With Brighton visiting the London Stadium this Sunday, there’s a strong chance that Kehrer could be signed by then with West Ham also playing a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying match against Danish side Viborg this Thursday, a fixture the defender could well be in attendance for.

Labelled as a ‘titianic’ presence in an interview with PSG’s official YouTube channel, Kehrer is a smart new addition for West Ham given the German’s ability to play numerous defensive positions as well as his immense experience at playing at a top level for the French giants.

Kehrer was a member of PSG’s runners-up team in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final, with the defender also winning three Ligue 1 titles with the French giants as well as making 20 appearances for Germany since 2018, with this move to West Ham likely a push from the centre-back to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad in November.

Kehrer signing for West Ham could be a great move for all parties

Whilst Kehrer was a regular for PSG, the new direction of the club under Christophe Galtier means that a fresh start could be needed for the 25-year-old defender, and signing for West Ham is ideal for both the player and the clubs involved with this deal.

Indeed, Kehrer gets a move to an ambitious club in West Ham that is playing European football whilst also featuring in the biggest division in the world, something that could catch the eye of Germany ahead of the World Cup later this year in Qatar.