West Ham United have already started with their transfer plans for the summer after all but securing their Premier League safety, according to La Opinion.
The Hammers are interested in signing River Plate full back Gonzalo Montiel as manager David Moyes looks to add some much needed defensive stability to his side.
West Ham registered a crucial 3-1 victory over Watford which left them six points clear of the relegation zone with a considerable better goal difference and just two games left to play.
Although Moyes claimed that he would like to focus on the next two matches and reach 40 points first, it seems the club has already begun planning for next season in the English top flight.
Full back has been a problem area for the Hammers with Pablo Zabaleta’s age catching up with him and Ryan Fredericks’ inconsistency hampering their growth.
Montiel was heavily linked with West Ham previously as well but the transfer did not materialise in earlier windows.
River Plate have been hit hard by the pandemic and Moyes could profit off of that and get his man on the cheap as clubs around the world struggle for cash.
Montiel has a £16 million release clause but the East London side are confident of getting him for around half of that amount.
Manuel Lanzini had reportedly talked to the club hierarchy earlier to convince them of signing his compatriot.
Montiel is just 23 years old and could be a long term solution to West Ham’s defensive problems.
Only teams in the bottom three have conceded more goals than Moyes’ side in the division and he will be keen to improve on that to complement the attacking riches of Michail Antonio, Sebastian Haller, Jarrod Bowen, and others.
The Argentina international is a combative defender who is perhaps not as proficient going forward as full backs are expected to be but with age on his side he can be an asset to the club.
