Here is the rewritten article:
West Ham Eye Move for Former Chelsea Defender Fikayo Tomori as N’Golo Kante Pursuit Hits a Snag
West Ham United is considering a move for AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori, following a failed bid to sign former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante from Al-Ittihad.
The Hammers, under new manager Julen Lopetegui, saw their shock £15million bid for Kante rejected by Al-Ittihad last week. Kante, 33, is reportedly happy in Saudi Arabia, but could be tempted by a return to the Premier League.
Lopetegui had previously attempted to sign Kante during his time at Real Madrid, but the deal never materialized. A potential move to West Ham would bring an end to Kante’s stay in Saudi Arabia, where he signed a two-year deal worth £172m after leaving Chelsea in the summer of 2023.
In the meantime, West Ham is exploring alternative options, including former Chelsea defender Tomori. The 26-year-old has made 142 appearances for Milan since his £24m move in 2021 and has been capped five times at international level.
Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori is of interest to the Hammers in this summer window
Tomori was close to joining West Ham on loan in 2020 but rejected the chance to move to the club just minutes before the end of the transfer window. He has since spoken about his decision to stay at Stamford Bridge to further his development.
Speaking on the Chelsea Mike’d Up podcast in 2020, Tomori said: ‘I had a plan going into this season going off the back of last season. Obviously, in football, things change so quickly so I wanted to make sure whatever decision I made was really thought out and to try and do what’s best for me.’
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui is hoping to secure reinforcements ahead of the new season, and Tomori could be a key addition to the squad.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui is hoping to secure reinforcements ahead of the new season
Will West Ham be able to secure Tomori’s signature, or will they need to look elsewhere to strengthen their squad?
Share or comment on this article:
West Ham eye move for former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori, with shock approach for fellow ex-Blues star N’Golo Kante in doubt after Al-Ittihad insist France midfielder is NOT for sale