---
title: "West Ham offer contract to Nicolas N’Koulou"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2016/06/26/west-ham-offer-contract-nicolas-nkoulou/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2016-06-26T19:08:28Z"
modified: "2016-06-26T19:08:28Z"
---

# West Ham offer contract to Nicolas N’Koulou

West Ham have launched an eleventh hour bid to sign former Marseille defender Nicolas N’Koulou on a free transfer from under the noses of Espanyol this summer.

According to Catalunya-based source [L’Esportiu](https://www.lesportiudecatalunya.cat/nel9/article/8-esports/49-espanyol/980487-els-rivals-es-desperten.html), West Ham have offered a contract to N’Koulou who will leave Marseiille when his contract expires at the end of June.

The Ligue 1 club are in a well-documented financial crisis which has culminated in them needing to recoup €25m to offset their current financial deficit to avoid DNCG sanctions which could be as severe as a transfer embargo – the likely method of doing so is [selling West Ham target Michy Batshuayi](https://t.co/hgqkmrRGSR).

![Phil Walter/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2016/06/451115276.jpg)

This has also meant that key players Steve Mandanda and Nicolas N’Koulou have been allowed to walk away on free transfers as they cannot afford to offer them bumper new contracts.

The 26-year-old defender has been in talks with West Ham throughout the summer but La Liga side Espanyol swooped in earlier this week and are [believed to be closing in on his signature](https://readwestham.com/2016/06/25/west-ham-target-nkoulou-agrees-contract-with-espanyol/).

N’Koulou has been capped 68 times by Cameroon and following his £2.5m move from Monaco to Marseille in 2011 has made 207 appearances for the club, scoring on seven occasions.

![Kaz Photography/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2016/06/454360038.jpg)

Roma, Besiktas, Lazio, Sevilla and Fenerbahçe have all been linked with moves for N’Koulou this summer but only the Hammers and Espanyol have made contract offers thus far.

The La Liga outfit firmly believe N’Koulou is theirs, and will be presented as an Espanyol player next week on a long-term deal worth £25,000-a-week, but the Hamemers have launched a late, late bid to steal him from under their noses.

West Ham already have the likes of Angelo Ogbonna, Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins on their books as capable central defenders with Reece Oxford and Reece Burke both vying for minutes at the position as well. It’s hard to see where N’Koulou would fit in if the Hammers are successful in their efforts to sign him.