West Ham United are planning a transfer swoop for Norwich City defender Max Aarons, according to the Mirror.
The Hammers are still busy finalising the transfer of Declan Rice to Arsenal, after which they will move for the rapid full-back.
The 23-year-old has been a mainstay in the Canaries’ defence since emerging from their academy in 2018.
In his first season of senior football, Aarons made it into the 2018/19 Championship Team of the Season for his performances as they sealed promotion to the Premier League.
He also won the 2018/19 EFL Young Player of the Season award.
Aarons was a regular for Norwich in the top flight, helping them keep five clean sheets. He won 54% of his ground duels and created seven big chances.
However, it was not enough for Norwich to stay up as they crashed back down to the second tier. They won an immediate return to the Premier League but were relegated again.
The Hammersmith-born right-back has made 213 appearances for Norwich, bagging six goals and 17 assists.
Aarons would provide West Ham with a new dimension down the right side of David Moyes’ team. The idea of the full-back combining with Jarrod Bowen down the right flank is a tantalising thought.
Norwich will likely be open to a sale with the player in the final 12 months of his contract at Carrow Road. His deal expires in 2024, and the Canaries will not want to lose him free.
West Ham have been eyeing Aarons since 2021, but he stayed at Varrow Road. He could join the Hammers this summer to provide competition for Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson.
The Londoners are in the market for several other players, including Leicester City star Harvey Barnes.
