---
title: "West Ham hold ‘early talks’ as Elkan Baggott asking price revealed"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/01/12/hammers-hold-transfer-talks-elkan-baggott-asking-price-revealed/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-01-12T18:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-12T18:00:00Z"
---

# West Ham hold ‘early talks’ as Elkan Baggott asking price revealed

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/01/12/west-ham-player-ratings-stockport-county-a/) have been told they could sign promising Ipswich Town defender [Elkan Baggott](https://readwestham.com/2021/01/07/west-ham-alerted-to-elkan-baggott-contract-rejection-ipswich/) for a six-figure fee this month, according to a report from [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/leeds-united-west-ham-baggott-transfer-latest/).

The Hammers face competition for the 18-year-old from fellow Premier League side Leeds United, with both clubs already carrying out ‘early talks’ over a potential deal.

Baggott, who was born in Bangkok, has already made his [first team bow](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/elkan-baggott/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/758030/verein/677) at Portman Road as well as making two appearances for [Indonesia’s under-19 side](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/elkan-baggott/nationalmannschaft/spieler/758030/verein_id/70426).

The teenager could be available for between £150,000 to £300,000, which would ultimately be paid by way of compensation after he [rejected a new contract offer](https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/ipswich-town-working-on-baggott-contract-6886842) at Ipswich.

Leeds shelled out just shy of [£30m on centre-backs](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399) in the summer, but they haven’t solved their problems at the back as Marcelo Bielsa’s side struggle to stem the tide of goals – conceding the [second-most in the Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) this season behind West Brom.

In contrast, the Hammers have been [defensively resolute](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham) of late and, for the most part, have [settled on a stable back-line](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham).

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Having already [secured the services](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/december/22-december/west-ham-united-sign-promising-danish-defender-frederik) of another 18-year-old centre-back in Frederik Alves this month, David Moyes is clearly planning for the future and life after the [current crop](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad) of West Ham players.

Although Fabian Balbuena, Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson have all [performed admirably](https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/total_tackle) this term, the youngest of the trio is [Balbuena at 29](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fabian-balbuena/profil/spieler/285548), meaning the next batch off the centre-back production line needs to be put in place now.

Often [chastised](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/sullivan-admission-west-ham-transfers-18981973) for a reluctance to splash whatever cash is available, the Irons hierarchy should be enticed by the par-for-the-course nature of the comparatively measly compensation fee required to land Baggott.