The stunning £38m West Ham summer transfer swoop that would take Hammers to the next level

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The Hammers are said to be keen on a big money swoop for a former Chelsea star

There was a time, not so very long ago, when Fikayo Tomori seemed as if he was the natural heir to England’s central defensive throne. Highly-rated, hotly-tipped, and playing at an elite level, the Chelsea academy graduate looked to have it all, and yet, at the time of writing he has amassed just five caps since his senior international debut in 2019.

Some would suggest that relatively paltry total is a reflection of Gareth Southgate’s propensity for sticking with tried and trusted personnel. Others will make the point that Tomori’s decision to join AC Milan in 2021 removed him from the glaring limelight of the Premier League somewhat, and as such, out of the former England manager’s immediate attentions.

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But if reports are to be believed, Tomori could well find himself back in the top flight sooner rather than later. According to the Daily Mail, West Ham are weighing up a swoop for the 26-year-old, having come within a whisker of signing him on loan all the way back in 2020. It is understood that new manager Julen Lopetegui is an admirer of the defender, and that he is eager to bolster his back line ahead of his first campaign in East London.

For their part, Milan are said to be reluctant to do business; reports in Italy suggest that Tomori is considered ‘unsellable’ by many at the San Siro, and over the course of preseason, the centre-back has been spotted sporting the captain’s armband for Paulo Foncesca’s side. Last season, he made 35 appearances across all competitions for the Serie A giants, and those matches he did miss were predominantly due to a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined from December through to February. In other words, he is a very, very significant member of the dressing room.

But everybody has a price, and if other mutterings are to be believed, Tomori’s could be somewhere in the region of £38 million or so. For a player of his obvious pedigree, that feels fairly reasonable - although it remains to be seen whether West Ham truly have the inclination to test Milan’s resolve with a bid of that size having already spent big on fellow centre-back Max Kilman this summer.

If they are serious about reaching the next level under Lopetegui, though - and if funds permit, of course - then the Hammers should at least consider it. While Tomori has long since been snubbed by the England setup, he has continued to receive glowing praise on the continent, and counts the likes of legendary Italian talisman Paolo Maldini amongst his biggest advocates. As a general rule of thumb, if somebody of that stature speaks, you listen. In the prime of his career, and with quality in abundance, Tomori would represent a massive statement of intent from West Ham, should they push ahead in their pursuit of him.

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The process will not be without its snags, and the resistance that Milan have reportedly already shown is a likely indication of their determination to dig their heels in. But if you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t win the raffle, and to that end, West Ham should not be giving up on this one just yet.

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