---
title: "Virals: West Ham target Nikola Maksimovic wants EPL switch"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/07/05/virals-west-ham-target-nikola-maksimovic-wants-epl-switch/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-07-05T08:30:00Z"
modified: "2021-07-05T08:30:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham target Nikola Maksimovic wants EPL switch

Long-standing [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/07/04/chris-sutton-lauds-exceptional-declan-rice-euro-displays/) target [Nikola Maksimovic](https://readwestham.com/2021/06/30/virals-west-ham-offer-contract-to-nikola-maksimovic/) is reportedly keen to move to the Premier League above anything else this summer.

The 29-year-old Serbian central defender recently became a [free agent](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-maksimovic/profil/spieler/124715) after a Napoli contract expired and can discuss a future with any interested party.

Irons’ boss David Moyes is expected to bolster the defensive ranks after [Fabian Balbuena left](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad) the London Stadium, leaving only Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna, Issa Diop and the inexperienced Frederik Alves to call upon.

According to a report from [The Sunday Mirror (Print Edition; July 3rd, page 77)](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/), as cited by [West Ham News & Views](https://twitter.com/WestHamViews_/status/1411943699991437315) on Twitter, the 25-cap star has prioritised a move to England.

> Twitter: West Ham have received a boost in their pursuit for free agent Nikola Maksimovic, as the Serbian is prioritising a… https://t.co/NVhwfV3RLY (@WestHamViews\_)

The report claims that a host of clubs are keen on the [25-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-maksimovic/nationalmannschaft/spieler/124715/verein_id/3438) Serbian international on a free transfer.

During 2019/20, Maksimovic made [28 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-maksimovic/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/124715) across all competitions – earning an average [Sofascore rating of 7.07](https://www.sofascore.com/player/nikola-maksimovic/68076) in three UEFA Champions League outings.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Signing the centre-back for free would be a major coup for the Hammers given the ace’s [experience](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-maksimovic/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/124715) and undoubted quality.

Still holding a market value of £9million ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-maksimovic/marktwertverlauf/spieler/124715)), the versatile Serb has amassed [226 league outings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nikola-maksimovic/detaillierteleistungsdaten/spieler/124715) across an impressive career.

Furthermore, landing a priority singing without any expenditure on a fee would free up the budget to concentrate on a forward arrival and perhaps the [capture of Jesse Lingard](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/transfer-news/jesse-lingard-manchester-united-transfer-20809994).