It is probably safe to assume the West Ham United faithful did not anticipate seeing Max Kilman’s name in the same sentence of Barcelona during the lead up to the summer transfer window.
Yet, the fates of the soon-to-be La Liga champions and Nuno Espirito Santo’s much-maligned, recently-booed centre-half may be somewhat linked.
Now, we have to clarify that this is not a Julian Faubert to Real Madrid sort of situation.
What is the WEIRDEST West Ham transfer you can remember? 😵💫
Surely Faubert to Real Madrid is up there…
Real Madrid's French midfielder Julien Faubert attends a training session in Madrid on April 30, 2009. Real Madrid will play 'El Clasico' match against arch-rivals Barcelona on May 02, 2009, a crucial match in deciding the league title this season, as Real are just four points behind the Catalan giants at the top of the table with just five matches to play.
Barcelona are in the market for a left-footed defender. And while Max Kilman is one of those, if Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni is the Blaugrana’s number one target, then Kilman would struggle to crack the top 500.
But as West Ham United look to move on from the former Wolves captain – The Athletic reports that Kilman lost Nuno’s trust even before the clumsiest of penalty concessions against Leeds in the FA Cup quarter-finals – Barcelona may be about to scupper the Hammers’ chances of bringing in Jhon Lucumi from Bologna as a replacement.
Barcelona eyeing up West Ham United-linked Jhon Lucumi
According to Italian publication Calciomercato, West Ham looked at Bologna giant Lucumi during the January window. The Colombia international was reportedly one of a number of centre-back targets, alongside Charlie Cresswell, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Real Betis’ Natan, before Axel Disasi arrived on deadline day.
Three months on, Diario Sport are claiming that Barcelona director Deco has identified Lucumi as the Plan B option should Inter refuse to let Bastoni move to Catalonia.
Jhon Lucumi of Bologna FC looks on during the Serie A
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
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Inter have allegedly rejected a bid of around £40 million already.
Lucumi, his contract expiring in 2027, could be available for a comparative knock-down fee of £22 million.
Per Data MB, there is little to separate Lucumi and Bastoni when it comes to ‘progressive passes’ and ‘progressive carries’, despite the latter’s reputation as arguably the finest ball-playing centre-back on the planet. Lucumi ranks far higher than Bastoni in ‘defensive duels’, however.
And therefore Kilman too; statistically one of the weakest defenders in the Premier League when it comes to winning aerial battles.
How do you feel about fans booing Max Kilman? 😳
Kilman may not play again under Nuno Espirito Santo
Nuno spoke out in support of Kilman after he was targeted by jeers in that Leeds clash a week-and-a-half ago.
That he wasn’t even part of the matchday squad when West Ham thrashed former employers Wolves in their very next match, however, said more than the head coach’s defence ever could.
“Look, in terms of fans, they are giving much more to us than us to them!” Nuno said. “So we cannot complain. We have to thank them for everything they are doing in supporting us.
“[But Kilman] played a good game, especially for a player that was not involved for such a long period. He did a lot of good things, he handled the [boos] well, and at the same time the group helped.
“I saw teammates going around him and supporting him which shows a lot of togetherness among ourselves which is positive.”
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