If Max Kilman never plays another Premier League game for West Ham United, well, it will only be too soon in the eyes of many supporters.
Kilman is very much Nuno’s fourth-choice centre-back these days.
He has only played once since Nuno Espirito Santo admitted his ‘mistake’ bringing the much-maligned defender off the bench at Chelsea in late-January – and that one and only appearance came against third-tier Burton Albion in the FA Cup.
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Max Kilman of West Ham United reacts after missing a chance during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Chelsea at London Stadium on August 22, 2025 in London, England.
With The Athletic backing up suggestions that Max Kilman has lost the trust of a manager who put so much faith in him at Wolves, all the signs point towards a West Ham United departure via the back door.
But whether Natan strolls in through the entrance to take his place – the Hammers remain interested in the Real Betis defender – remains to be seen.
The feeling is that they may have missed the boat.
Bournemouth in for West Ham United target Natan
Natan of Real Betis v Athletic Bilbao in La Liga
Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP via Getty Images
According to Diario de Sevilla, West Ham offered Real Betis a £32 million package for Natan during the final few hours of the winter window, before finally securing a loan deal for Axel Disasi.
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Betis rejected the bid, preferring to wait until the summer with Europa League qualification still very much in their hands.
Manuel Pellegrino’s Los Verdiblancos outfit value Natan at around £35 million. They may have to sell before July 1st in order to balance the books. The problem for West Ham, ABC de Sevilla report, is that competition for the Brazilian’s signature has risen considerably.
The report says that ‘several prominent Serie A sides’ are interested, alongside Crystal Palace, Brentford and Bournemouth. The Cherries are the team mentioned in far greater detail than the others; ABC de Sevilla explaining how Natan has emerged as a replacement for the out-of-contract Marcos Senesi.
Unlike the Hammers, Bournemouth are safe from relegation danger and can set about consolidating their summer plans while stepping up talks with leading transfer targets. Furthermore, one suspects that West Ham will not be able to meet Betis’ £35 million asking price until they manage to get Kilman off the books first.
That may be easier said than done, although links with Crystal Palace continue to hover in the background.
Natan could be everything Max Kilman is not under Nuno
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Malick Diouf playing for West Ham against Newcastle United. Mateus Fernandes playing for West Ham against Tottenham.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Natan, still only 25, is similarly left-footed – a valuable commodity in today’s market – but also a defender far better suited to Nuno’s demands. Per Data MB, Natan would represent a massive upgrade on Kilman with regards to his aerial success rate and in defensive duels.
Nuno likes physically-imposing centre-halves who can dominate the penalty area. Kilman, while he played a key role under the Iberian at Molineux, lacks the physicality or the profile of a classic Nuno centre-half; see Willy Boly and Nikola Milenkovic.
It is no coincidence that Konstantinos Mavropanos is playing the best football of his career under a coach who simplified his game with great results.
Chelsea will reportedly sell Axel Disasi for £20 million this summer. Should West Ham survive, this is a fee which should be within their remit. Whether there is a further £35 million left over for Natan, though, remains to be seen.
Presuming Bournemouth do not get there first.
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