West Ham are assessing three potential right-back signings with Aaron Wan-Bissaka now considered increasingly likely to leave before the transfer window closes.
Hammarby defender Hampus Skoglund is among the players the Hammers have looked at, alongside Coventry City’s Kaine Kesler-Hayden and KV Mechelen youngster Thérence Koudou.
Wan-Bissaka’s future has been uncertain since West Ham were relegated from the Premier League, with interest emerging from several clubs across Europe. Nuno Espírito Santo can already call on Kyle Walker-Peters, but the latest recruitment work suggests another right-back could arrive if Wan-Bissaka moves on.
ReadWestHam previously examined why replacing Wan-Bissaka would create another significant recruitment decision for Nuno. West Ham rejected an approach from Lazio earlier in the window and have been looking for a suitable deal rather than allowing the defender to leave cheaply.
West Ham consider three right-back options
According to ExWHUEmployee, West Ham have looked at Skoglund as they prepare for the possibility of Wan-Bissaka departing. The 22-year-old has established himself with Hammarby in Sweden and is under contract until the end of 2029, while his performances have also attracted interest from elsewhere in Europe.
Kesler-Hayden provides a more familiar option. The 23-year-old joined Coventry permanently from Aston Villa last summer and can play as a conventional full-back or further forward as a wing-back, giving Nuno the type of positional flexibility he has often valued.
Koudou is the youngest of the three at 21 and has emerged as another player on West Ham’s radar. Reports in Belgium have also confirmed West Ham’s interest in the KV Mechelen defender, with new head of recruitment Nils Koppen believed to have admired the France Under-21 international for some time.
There is no indication that West Ham have settled on a preferred target or opened advanced negotiations for any of the trio. Their presence on the shortlist instead shows the club are planning for life after Wan-Bissaka rather than waiting for his departure before searching for a replacement.
Walker-Peters would be capable of starting regularly in the Championship, so West Ham do not necessarily need an expensive first-choice replacement. A younger player who can provide competition now and develop into a longer-term option could make more sense as Nuno continues reshaping the squad.
