Everton and West Ham United are set to clash in the transfer market as they both target the same powerhouse center-back, Koni De Winter. The 22-year-old Belgian defender currently plays for Genoa and has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs.
West Ham United had initially contacted Genoa about signing De Winter, with manager Graham Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay reportedly big fans of the player. However, Everton has now entered the running, with journalist Rudy Galetti confirming that the Toffees have approached Genoa about a potential transfer.
Despite Everton’s interest, West Ham United may have an edge in the transfer race due to a curious connection. Maxwel Cornet, a winger who had a nightmare spell at West Ham United under former manager David Moyes, has been rejuvenated while on loan at Genoa. The Italian club is reportedly interested in signing Cornet permanently, and including him in a deal for De Winter could sweeten the transfer for West Ham United.
This development may come back to haunt Moyes, who is now the manager of Everton. Moyes had reportedly taken umbrage with Cornet’s desire to rehabilitate from an injury in France rather than in London, which led to the winger’s limited playing time at West Ham United.
With the transfer window set to open soon, both Everton and West Ham United will be looking to strengthen their squads. The competition for De Winter’s signature is likely to be fierce, but West Ham United’s connection with Cornet and Genoa may give them an advantage in the transfer race.