West Ham is one of several European clubs that are closely monitoring on-loan Juventus defender Koni De Winter.
What’s the latest on Koni De Winter to West Ham?
According to Tutto Juve, the Hammers first enquired about the 20-year-old Empoli loanee in the January transfer window, and are ahead of Premier League rivals Southampton and Crystal Palace in their pursuit of this coveted talent.
As well as these English sides, Reims, Bayer Leverkusen, Monza, and Sassuolo have also registered an interest in the youngster in what could be a hotly contested race for his signature.
The report also suggests that De Winter’s preference would be to remain at Juventus beyond this season and fight for his place in the first team, but it remains to be seen if this is a realistic option.
Would De Winter fit in at West Ham?
The Belgian has been at Juventus since 2018 and made his breakthrough into the senior side when he debuted in the Champions League against Chelsea in November 2021. The Antwerp native then made history in that month when he became the Old Lady’s youngest player to start in a European game, aged just 19 years and 179 days.
Juve veteran Leonardo Bonucci was impressed by De Winter’s performance and said: “Koni had a good game, he played with personality. He has no fear and this will be an advantage for his career.”
However, the £3k-per-week man has since found his minutes in Turin limited and sealed a loan move to fellow Italian side Empoli for the 2022/23 season.
The defender has made 13 league appearances for the Gli Azzurri this term and currently ranks in the top 2% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for clearances per 90.
To pounce on this gifted player, who is still at the preliminary stage of his career, would be an astute piece of business by the Irons’, who already have De Winter a ready-made central defensive partner in Nayef Aguerd.
The Moroccan has amassed a respectable average rating of 6.56 across 12 Premier League appearances, but his debut season in England has been blighted by injury, which has starved the star of any long-lasting consistency.
Having had this term to settle in a new country, the 27-year-old is surely set for more assured times ahead and could be an invaluable source of wisdom and quality for De Winter.
David Moyes and the West Ham hierarchy could leap on this unmissable opportunity in what could be a major reshuffle for an underperforming defence.