West Ham have made a £25million bid for Wolves captain Max Kilman as they look to kickstart a defensive revamp under Julen Lopetegui.
The Hammers have identified Kilman as their No1 centre-back target as new manager Lopetegui looks to upgrade a defence that last season conceded more goals than any other side to avoid relegation in the Premier League.
Wolves are expected to reject the Irons’s opening bid as they seek upwards of £40m for a player they signed from non-league Maidenhead United six years ago.
The Midlands club are reluctant to lose their longest-serving player but may be forced to sell this summer over fears of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
West Ham have held been long-standing interest in the 27-year-old, with former manager David Moyes also an admirer, and Lopetegui is now pushing for a reunion with a player he worked with at Molineux.
Angelo Ogbonna has already left the London Stadium at the end of his contract, while the club are open to offers for Moroccan international Nayef Aguerd, meaning at least two new centre-backs will be signed, while there are also concerns over Kurt Zouma’s fitness.
