West Ham have registered their interest in Udinese centre-back Nehuen Perez, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Writing on his personal website, the Sky Italy journalist said that the Hammers have made an enquiry for the Argentinian international.
It appears as though the Hammers haven’t made a formal bid for Perez yet, and it remains to be seen whether they will press ahead with an attempt to secure his signature.
The 23-year-old has spent the last three seasons with Udinese, having moved from Atletico Madrid on a permanent basis for €8m.
However, Perez has attracted interest from other teams, with Di Marzio claiming that Napoli had a €16m offer rejected back in the January transfer window.
What do fans need to know about Perez?
The defender started out at Argentinos Juniors but he was quickly snapped up by Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2018. He was immediately loaned back to the Argentinian club for six months before moving to Spain at the beginning of 2019.
Perez didn’t make a single first-team appearance for Atletico, but he did have successful loan spells at Portuguese side Famalicao and fellow Spanish club Granada, where he was a regular starter.
Udinese also initially loaned the Argentine for the 2021/22 campaign before signing him up permanently in the summer of 2022.
West Ham are actively pursuing centre-halves
Technical director Tim Steidten is keen to strengthen the club’s options in the middle of defence. The Irons have already seen a move for Flamengo’s Fabricio Bruno collapse but they have also been linked with several other defenders.
Lyon’s Jake O’Brien, Hull City’s Jacob Greaves, Wolves’ Max Kilman, Manchester City’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah are believed to be on the London club’s radar, along with Perez. We shall have to wait and see which target Steidten ends up pursuing.
