West Ham have entered the race to sign Freiburg defender Robin Koch, according to the Daily Star.
Tottenham, Leeds United and Norwich are also believed to be interested in acquiring the 23-year-old’s signature, while RB Leipzig had a £17.5 million bid rejected in January.
West Ham have asked Koch’s representatives to keep them updated with the Germany international’s situation, as they weigh up a move.
The centre-back has started 24 of Freiburg’s 25 Bundesliga matches this season, helping them to eighth in the table currently.
Read West Ham Verdict
Koch could be an excellent signing for West Ham, although it is clear that they face competition for his services. He has two caps for Germany and that number should increase in the coming years.
The Hammers have the fourth-worst defensive record in the Premier League this season, conceding 50 times, suggesting defensive reinforcements are required.
Koch could represent both an immediate upgrade on the likes of Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna, or at least direct competition for them, but he can also be seen a long-term prospect.
He has averaged more tackles (1.2) per game than Diop (1.0) this season, as well as more interceptions (1.3) than Ogbonna (0.9).
