West Ham United is exploring the possibility of acquiring Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos, sources from The West Ham Way have revealed.
Several Premier League clubs, including Fulham, are showing interest in the Brazilian central defender, who has just two years remaining on his contract at Villa Park.
With negotiations for Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo proving to be challenging, West Ham has turned its attention to Carlos as a potential signing. The club is also considering other defensive options such as Trevoh Chalobah, Mats Hummels, and Carlos as they prepare for Julen Lopetegui’s first season in charge.
Diego Carlos may be brought in as a replacement for Kurt Zouma, who is on the verge of a move to Shabab Al-Ahli in Dubai. Zouma’s departure could prompt the Hammers to actively pursue Carlos as they look to strengthen their defensive line.
Fulham is also in the race to sign Carlos, with talks already initiated between the Cottagers and the player who is reportedly open to leaving Aston Villa this summer.
Having endured a challenging first season due to a knee injury, Carlos made an impressive comeback last season under Unai Emery’s guidance. Despite his setbacks, West Ham and Fulham are closely monitoring his situation this summer.
In addition, Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran is eyeing a move to West Ham despite the recent arrival of Niclas Fullkrug. The Colombian striker is open to departing the club after limited game time and could be a costly yet valuable addition to the Hammers’ squad. While Al-Hilal is also interested in Duran, his preference is to make the move to West Ham United.