West Ham flop Max Kilman is expected to leave West Ham this summer, but the club may not be able to cash in on his services just yet.
The defender joined West Ham from Wolves in a £40m deal just two years ago.
For all the latest West Ham transfer news, confirmed signings and rumours, visit our dedicated transfer centre here.
He enjoyed a relatively good first season in east London, making 41 appearances in all competitions, starting all 38 of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures in the process.
But his second season was a complete disaster and he eventually lost his place in Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side, making just two appearances after January – both in the FA Cup.
His last Premier League appearance for the Hammers came on January 31st as a 90th-minute substitute against Chelsea. In the 91st minute, Chelsea scored the winner in a 3-2 win.
His final appearance in claret and blue came in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Leeds, in which he gave away a penalty.
So the writing has been on the wall for 29-year-old for some time now, although West Ham’s relegation to the Championship did raise questions as to whether he might be called upon in the second-tier.
However, according to reports, that’s unlikely to happen.
Kilman set for West Ham exit
According to Claret & Hugh, Kilman is not part of Nuno’s plans next season.
It’s claimed the club are opting to make him available to go out on loan, instead of attempting to sell him outright.
That could be because his value will have seriously declined over the past 12 months, while he still has five years remaining on the seven-year contract he signed when he first joined.
Sending Kilman out on loan gives him the opportunity to rediscover some form and will, in turn, increase his value ahead of next summer.
Given West Ham’s £40m outlay for the defender, they will understandably be reluctant to take such a heavy loss on his services, seemingly as they’re likely to still be paying Wolves back in instalments.
That would make a loan move this summer a beneficial deal for all parties involved, especially if he can improve his reputation at whatever club he signs for.
It’s unlikely he’ll get a Premier League move, though, based on his performances for West Ham this season and the fact he was unable to hold down a place in the starting XI during a relegation season.