West Ham United will reportedly enter a transfer race with four of their Premier League rivals to sign Belgian defender Koni de Winter in January.
The 20-year-old came through the Juventus academy and made two appearances for the senior side in the Champions League last season, coming off the bench against Chelsea before starting the following fixture against Malmo.
De Winter’s contract with the Italian giants was renewed until 2026 in the summer, but the young defender has been spending the 2022/23 campaign on loan to fellow Serie A side Empoli. The Belgian has played eight games for Gil Azzuri, starting in six of them.
READ MORE: West Ham 'willing to sell' Vladimir Coufal with price tag set amid Bayer Leverkusen link
According to Corriere dello Sport, De Winter has attracted the interest of five Premier League teams, including West Ham and Southampton. However, the 20-year-old is determined to play regularly for Juventus and the Italian newspaper reports that it could cost around £10.3million to sign the defender.
Adding to their defensive ranks may very well be on the Hammers' agenda in the January transfer window. David Moyes has been dealt a key selection blow for the Boxing Day clash with Arsenal after Kurt Zouma underwent knee surgery, with a return date at this moment unknown.
That leaves Moyes with Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna, Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd as centre-back options, with hopes the latter two don’t pick up any injuries at the World Cup with Germany and Morocco respectively.
READ NEXT:
Three options David Moyes has for West Ham’s Arsenal clash after Kurt Zouma’s injury
The former West Ham and Liverpool defender in charge of Cameroon at the World Cup
Declan Rice to Chelsea transfer links, David Moyes and World Cup - West Ham behind the scenes
Roy Keane makes Declan Rice and Jack Grealish jibe after Jamal Musiala's England snub
The West Ham side that rank above Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham after perfect league start
