WEST HAM are targeting Le Havre ace Etienne Kinkoue ahead of Thursday’s January transfer deadline day.
Kinkoue, 22, could cost as little as £10million but the Hammers face competition from Eintracht Frankfurt as well as Red Bull Salzburg.
The highly-rated youngster started to turn heads in 2019 when he joined Inter Milan’s youth ranks where he made 48 appearances for the Under-19s.
The centre-back’s impressive displays at Inter saw him training with the first team, which was under ex-Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte at he time.
The Frenchman, though, never played for the senior side and was sold to Olympiacos in 2021.
The ex-France Under-17 international played for the Greek giants’ B team where he registered one assist in 23 appearances.
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First-team opportunities were also scarce in Piraeus and Kinkoue wanted to take the next step.
That led to a big move to Ligue 1 outfit Le Havre last year in January.
The defender helped Luka Elsner’s side earn promotion to the French top flight last season.
Kinkoue recently earned a starting place after spending the beginning of the campaign on the bench.
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The Frenchman has played full 90 minutes 10 times out of the last 13 league matches.
West Ham are sixth in the Premier League table with eight points separating them from the top four.
David Moyes’ side have also punched their ticket to the Last 16 of the Europa League after disposing Kinkoue’s former side Olympiacos, who made it to the Europa Conference League play-offs.
The club could have funds to use after SunSport exclusively revealed they had a agreed a £15m fee for the sale of Said Benrahma.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
