West Ham United have agreed a deal to sign central defender Max Kilman from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £40 million, according to Sky Sports.
The Hammers had a previous offer of £25 million rejected last month but upped their bid to secure Kilman’s services.
West Ham are in dire need of defensive reinforcements at the London Stadium. They conceded 74 goals in the Premier League last season, the worst defensive record outside the relegation zone.
Only the relegated sides Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United conceded more.
This vulnerability was particularly exposed in London derbies. West Ham suffered heavy defeats to Crystal Palace (5-0), Chelsea (5-0) and Arsenal (6-0), highlighting a concerning lack of defensive organisation.
Captain Kurt Zouma was particularly poor last season, and Kilman can adeptly replace him on the right side of defence.
New manager Julen Lopetegui, who previously managed Kilman during his nine-month stint at Wolves, has identified the defender as a key piece in his defensive rebuild.
The 27-year-old Wolves defender is set to leave Molineux after six seasons with the club.
He initially joined Wolves from non-league Maidenhead United in 2018 and has established himself as a dependable centre-back in the Premier League.
Lopetegui will hope the experienced defender can bring much-needed stability and leadership to his backline, allowing the Hammers to push for a more competitive season.
West Ham finished ninth in the Premier League last term, missing out on European football despite boasting a squad capable of taking one of the European spots.
Sporting director Mark Noble and technical director Tim Steidten will be keen on adding more quality to bolster West Ham’s bid for European football.
They have already signed highly-touted Brazilian attacker Luis Guilherme, and Kilman looks set to become their second addition.
