West Ham Join Race for Monaco’s Aymen Abdennour
West Ham United are reportedly preparing a significant offer for AS Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour as the Premier League club looks to further bolster its squad following the recent signing of Dimitri Payet.
The Tunisia international, 25, has been one of the standout performers in Ligue 1 and has attracted serious interest across Europe. Bayern Munich, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Napoli, and Liverpool are all said to be tracking the centre-back.
But according to reports from France, West Ham are keen to move quickly and are preparing an €18 million bid to lure Abdennour to London. The Hammers are hoping that their financial offer, combined with the appeal of Premier League football, can sway Monaco into accepting their proposal.
Despite the growing interest, it remains unclear whether Abdennour would be willing to join a mid-table Premier League side. The Tunisian, who helped Monaco reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2015, may prefer a move to a club competing regularly in European competition.
Abdennour, who joined Monaco from Toulouse in 2014, has seen his reputation rise significantly over the past season due to his commanding performances in both domestic and European matches. Known for his strength, aerial ability, and composure on the ball, he has become one of Ligue 1’s most sought-after defenders.
West Ham, under new manager Slaven Bilić, appear intent on strengthening their defensive options ahead of the 2015–16 campaign. While Payet’s arrival has addressed the club’s creative needs, Bilić is now understood to be prioritising reinforcements at the back.
Monaco, who are not under immediate pressure to sell, may still hold out for a higher fee, particularly if one of the Champions League clubs expresses firm interest in the coming weeks.
Abdennour has been capped over 40 times by Tunisia and was a key figure in their squad at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
With the transfer window heating up, the race for his signature promises to be one of the more intriguing stories of the summer.
