Ipswich Town's signing of former Hammers right back Ben Johnson has left a gap in West Ham defence which Head Coach, Julen Lopetegui, and technical director, Tim Steidten, are looking to fill.
Southampton right back Kyle Walker-Peters is the player that has been identified as a replacement for Johnson. Walker-Peters has been on the Hammers radar since January 2023 when he was linked with a move back to London.
Walker-Peters started his career at London-rivals Tottenham, where he was in and out of the team in the five years of senior football before getting to loaned out to Southampton in January 2020. The move was made permanent for a £12 million fee in August 2020.
The 27-year-old has made 136 appearances for the Saints during his four years there, including 93 Premier League appearances, as well as earning himself two England caps in 2022.
Walker-Peters made 43 appearances this season as Southampton earned promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, beating Leeds 1-0 in the playoff final at Wembley.
According to ExWHUEmployee, West Ham have held talks with Southampton that would see them offer Hammers midfielder Flynn Downes as part of the deal for Walker-Peters, who was on loan at the club last year.
The English midfielder arrived to London from Swansea for a £12 million fee in 2022 but struggled, to where he became an integral part of the team under Russell Martin.
Southampton are keen to sign the midfielder on the permanent deal, but zccording to The Athletic, Downes believes he has unfinished business at the club and he wants to prove himself to new Head Coach, Julen Lopetegui ahead of the new season.
Danny Ings is another player that could become involved in the deal, with Southampton eager to bring the striker back to the south coast, but nothing has been said regarding the experienced striker.
Another twist to the story comes as according to Sky Sports, Tottenham and Brighton have now entered the race for the Southampton right back, with Spurs trying to tempt him back to his former club.
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How does Walker-Peters fit in to West Ham?
Ben Johnson's contract expiring leaves West Ham with one senior right-back at the club in Czech-international Vladimir Coufal, which means that right-back with be a key position that West Ham will be looking to recruit in.
The full-backs are a key position in a Lopetegui system as they are expected to full forward and put crosses in the box, as well as providing defensive solidity at the back.
Walker-Peters is in the top 10 percent for progressive carries and successful take ons, as well as getting good crosses in the box whenever he can, which makes him a perfect choice at right-back for Lopetegui.
Walker-Peters has also been known to play at left back for Southampton so he has versatility that will be useful for the squad depth with the Hammers looking to rebuild this season.
As well as this, Walker Peters is another player that fills West Ham's homegrown quota, which is a key thing going into the 2024/25, with Conor Coventry, Ben Johnson and Joseph Anang all being home-grown player's that have left since last season's squad, as well as Danny Ings, who is rumoured to be leaving.
Coufal played 45 games last season, notching an impressive seven assists across all competitions, but will he be able to play the role that Lopetegui wants his full backs to play?
Walker-Peters will certainly provide excellent competition in that position, which Lopetegui will keen to bring in ahead of his first season in charge of the club.
