West Ham ‘make £20m-rated Liverpool star their top summer target’ as Graham Potter eyes squad rebuild after dismal campaign
- West Ham have identified their top summer target as the season nears its end
- The Liverpool star is one of many summer targets as the Hammers eye a rebuild
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West Ham want to bring in a £20million-rated Liverpool star this summer, according to a report.
The Hammers are especially keen on getting a deal over the line if they are able to secure a loan move for their target.
The player is one of many summer hopefuls for Graham Potter, who has endured a nightmare first season in east London.
When the ex-Chelsea boss took over the reigns from Julen Lopetegui in January, West Ham were 14th, but have slipped a further three places under Potter.
In January, the club had previously targeted Brighton’s Evan Ferguson and Ajax forward Brian Brobbey in their hunt for a striker.
But now, West Ham are looking towards the opposite end of the pitch and have made Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher their top target for the summer, according to The Sun.
West Ham have made Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher their No 1 goalkeeper target this summer
The Irons also see Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale as an option to replace Alphonse Areola
Graham Potter is eyeing a squad rebuild this summer after a dismal Premier League campaign
Liverpool may allow Kelleher to leave but would charge potential suitors around £20m.
Southampton shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale is another major option being considered by West Ham.
The England star wants to keep hold of his spot as a Three Lions regular but this will be difficult in the Championship. It is believed Ramsdale would jump at the chance to start for a Premier League club.
West Ham are keen on replacing Alphonse Areola, who has kept just four clean sheets and conceded 34 goals in 21 league games this season, as they are unconvinced by his ability with the ball at his feet.
Meanwhile, Kelleher has made no secret of his desire to be the first-choice goalkeeper somewhere after spending the past five and a half seasons as a back-up option behind Alisson Becker.
‘I want to be the main keeper, I want to be the No1 playing week in, week out, which is the most important thing,’ he said last October.
‘It is nice to be involved in a team competing for stuff and to be around that, but I think every player will say the same, they want to be one of the main players.’
Liverpool rejected bids from Nottingham Forest for Kelleher last summer, but his Anfield future is clouded by the impending arrival of highly-rated Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in July.
