According to the former Six Foot Two editor via X on 7 August, Liverpool defender Joe Gomez is valued at £45 million by Anfield.
Zouma is reportedly close to leaving London Stadium for the UAE, as per Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna on 6 August, with Shabab Al-Ahli looking to sign him.
However, Whetstone noted that West Ham “will not be making a bid for Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, who is valued at £45 million, if Kurt Zouma leaves, club sources have confirmed.”
West Ham is interested in free agent Mats Hummels. Gomez is certainly a good player, but it would be a huge surprise to see the Irons spend that kind of money twice on a center-back after also spending £40 million to bring in Wolves captain Max Kilman [Dharmesh Sheth, 5 July].
Unless Nayef Aguerd also leaves, Julen Lopetegui could feasibly get by with his former Molineux favorite, the Moroccan, and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
However, this would leave him vulnerable to an injury crisis, so maintaining four options in the middle would be more sensible if an affordable option can be secured.
The Hammers are interested in a deal to sign former Borussia Dortmund player Mats Hummels, who is available on a free transfer after leaving the Bundesliga giants following the Champions League final [Florian Plettenberg, 6 August].
Brighton appears to be further along in their pursuit of the World Cup winner, so Tim Steidten will need to act quickly if he is to land the 35-year-old before he retires.
