West Ham appear to be stepping up their hunt for a new centre-back after identifying FC Rostov defender Dennis Hadzikadunic as a transfer target.
The Hammers have been closely linked with multiple bids for other defensive targets, but a report by Aftonbladet has singled out the 22-year-old youngster for a bargain deal; the promising player is available for as little as £6 million.
Hadzikadunic made 17 league appearances for FC Rostov last season, averaging one tackle, 0.8 interceptions, 2.9 clearances and 0.5 blocks per game. Impressively, the Swedish-born Bosnian also won an average of 3.9 aerial duals per match [via WhoScored].
David Moyes has been keen to bolster his backline – West Ham have reportedly made multiple offers for Burnley’s James Tarkowski and St. Etienne starlet Wesley Fofana.
Fofana has been the subject of a bid of around £33 million by West Ham, but also face competition from Leicester in order to bring the 19-year-old to the London Stadium.
As a consequence, West Ham may turn to Rostov’s young star as a cheaper option in order to free up limited funds for further investment. The Hammers are unlikely to face significant competition for the youngster’s signature.
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£6 million could prove to be a scintillating bargain that proves too good to ignore.
The step up from the Russian top division to the Premier League is formidable, but the right coaching and environment to develop in at West Ham could propel Hadzikadunic to an elite standard.
Unless Hadzikadunic abjectly failed to show any real promise in England, both his young age and low price would offset a great deal of risk. As a result, a deal could represent a shrewd move as the international transfer deadline looms.
With the potential to develop, this centre-back could well be one to watch out for in the future.
