🚨EXCLUSIVE :West Ham Want to Sign 6 ft 4 Free Agent for Julen Lopetegui

West Ham United are among a number of clubs showing an interest in former RB Salzburg defender Oumar Solet, who terminated his contract with the Austrian club on Saturday, according to HITC.

   A number of clubs in England and Europe have been informed following Solet’s surprise departure from Salzburg, with Newcastle, Aston Villa, Marseille and Inter Milan also monitoring the centre-back’s situation.

   Solet had no shortage of fans in the Premier League during the summer transfer window, as he still had a year left on his contract with the Austrian giants.    West Ham are said to see the former France U20 international as a cheaper alternative to Jean-Clair Todibo.

   The Nice star ended his summer saga last month when he joined the Hammers on a one-year loan deal with an obligation to buy almost certain to be triggered, but a Sun addition appears to remain an option for Julen Lopetegui’s side.

   West Ham splashed out almost £130m on nine new arrivals in the summer, including back three Todib, Max Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, while Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd have all left the club.

   The Austrian Zvezda is “interested” in Hammers
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   It remains unclear why Salzburg decided to end Solet’s time at the club early, rather than cash in on the highly sought-after centre-back in the January market.

   According to the club’s official social media post, the termination of the 24-year-old’s contract was mutual, ending Solet’s four-year tenure with the Austrian giants.

   The powerful defender, who has been described as “sportingly gifted”, joined Salzburg in the summer of 2020 from Lyon and made 106 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and providing five assists.

   Oumar Solet RB Salzburg Statistics (2023/24)

   Perform

   28

   EXAMPLE

   2

   assistant

   1

   Yellow cards

   3

   Minutes played

   2,141

   Solet helped Salzburg win three consecutive Austrian Bundesliga titles before the club narrowly missed out on a fourth title against Sturm Graz last season.

   Reports claim that German side Hoffenheim had a deal in place with the Red Bull team for Solet’s arrival late in the transfer window, but the transfer fell through after the 24-year-old failed a medical.    Before his departure, Solet had not made an appearance for Salzburg this season, missing the first nine games.

   Nolan ‘surprised’ with Ward-Prowse loan

   “Never do anything wrong”

   Former West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan says he is “very surprised” the Hammers have let James Ward-Prowse join Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan.

   Speaking on Premier League Review, the footballer-turned-champion was full of admiration for the 29-year-old midfielder following his debut for Forest last weekend, but expressed his shock at his departure from the London Stadium:

   “I have to admit I’m very surprised West Ham let him go. I understand Julen wants to bring in his players, but James Ward-Prowse is one of those players who never does anything wrong.”

   Ward-Prowse was an integral part of David Moyes’ tactics in his first season in east London, making 52 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists.

   The 29-year-old made his debut for Forest last weekend in a stunning 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s stunning second-half strike that sent Paul Merson into a frenzy.