Movement had been few and far between regarding West Ham United sextet Emerson Palmieri, Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez, Nayef Aguerd, Guido Rodriguez and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Well, until now, that is.
Hammers News were informed last week, by chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that West Ham were open to selling five senior players before the window shuts at the beginning of September.
And as Southampton demand £50 million-plus for Mateus Fernandes – rejecting an opening bid of £30 million from the London Stadium outfit on Tuesday – Graham Potter may well need all the funds he can get.
Everton and Leeds held discussions regarding Tomas Soucek in May but developments have been in short supply since. Ditto Alvarez. Real Betis U-turned on signing Emerson Palmieri, meanwhile, and appear to have little interest in bringing Guido Rodriguez back to his old stomping ground either.
It appeared that Nayef Aguerd and Konstantinos Mavropanos were destined to stay at West Ham United, too, after the central defensive duo disappeared from the gossip columns a few weeks back.
That was, however, until Mavropanos found himself back in the headlines on Wednesday lunchtime.
The Greek international has been mentioned in conjunction with Italian giants Roma for a while now, but Tuttomercatoweb also throw a new name into the frame; Villarreal.
Konstantinos Mavropanos during West Ham United FC v Crystal Palace FC - Premier League
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Villarreal want to take West Ham United’s Konstantinos Mavropanos to Spain
According to TMW, Roma have been keeping tabs on Konstantinos Mavropanos for months. However, the Giallorossi appear unlikely to make a move until they first sell one of the central defenders currently at Gian Piero Gasperini’s disposal.
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As for Villarreal, the Italian-based publication reports that Mavropanos was the subject of an enquiry from the La Liga side ‘in the last few hours’.
Villarreal still have plenty of cash to spend after bringing in £62 million via the sales of Alex Baena and Thierno Barry to Atletico Madrid and Everton respectively.
And, while the Yellow Submarine have already snapped up two central defenders in Napoli loanee Rafa Marin and Uruguayan Santiago Mourino, it appears that they remain determined to add another.
Gabby Agbonlahor called Mavropanos ‘terrible’ after Liverpool thrashing
Graham Potter spoke warmly about Mavropanos’ physicality towards the back end of the 2024/25 campaign. The one-time Arsenal youngster made a fairly positive impression during the Premier League Summer Series in the USA too, especially when lining up in the centre of a three-man backline.
Yet, high-profile mistakes have blighted his Hammers career and done potentially irreparable damage to his London Stadium reputation.
Tuttomercatoweb draw pretty fanciful comparisons with Brazil’s 2002 World Cup-winning icon Lucio. And while they do have a point regarding Mavropanos’ power and ball-carrying talents, those various blunders have seen the £17 million addition from Stuttgart labelled a ‘terrible’ signing.
“Mavropanos, what a terrible player,” sighed an exasperated Gabby Agbonlahor after the former Aston Villa captain watched West Ham suffer a humiliating 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool in December.
“I would have loved to play against him!”
According to reports earlier in the summer, West Ham could move for ex-Leeds youngster Charlie Cresswell if Mavropanos does go. The Hammers are reportedly looking to recoup the £17 million they paid Stuttgart back in 2023.
But, rather than bring Toulouse giant Cresswell back to England, any money brought in from Mavropanos’ potential sale is likely to be put towards a dynamic midfielder.
Mateus Fernandes, for instance.