West Ham are pushing to sign one former Wolves transfer target, as Julen Lopetegui has carried his interest to East London.
It’s been a flying start to the summer transfer window at Wolves, as Gary O’Neil has already secured four new signings.
On Tuesday, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Pedro Lima joined Tommy Doyle and Rodrigo Gomes as the Old Gold’s opening 2024/25 arrivals, with further business expected to be done.
Interestingly, one of Wolves’ targets from 2023 has been linked to a Premier League move, a player who could have added a lot to O’Neil’s squad ahead of the next campaign.
Julen Lopetegui wants former Wolves target Georges Mikautadze at West Ham
The summer transfer window of 2023 was a nightmare at Molineux, with the club’s need to generate profit leading to Julen Lopetegui jumping ship just days before the start of last season.
Despite having many players linked to Wolves before his exit, the Spaniard was unable to have his transfer wishes answered due to a lack of available funds.
One player who was rumoured to be on Lopetegui’s shopping list at Molineux was Georges Mikautadze, whom the former manager’s admiration for hasn’t expired.
According to Le 10 Sport West Ham are pushing to sign Mikautadze from FC Metz, offering a fee ‘much higher’ than Metz’s asking price of €20m (£17m).
Links are interesting given that Lopetegui was in charge of Wolves when the Midlands club eyed the Georgian last summer, with the Spaniard now in a position to acquire the striker at his new club.
While Wolves haven’t been credited with having an interest in the 23-year-old since last year’s links, there is no doubt that Mikautadze would present O’Neil with the perfect target.
Gary O’Neil could transform his team by signing Mikautadze
Despite having just rejoined FC Metz on a permanent basis from Ajax, there is an understanding that Mikautadze will be on the move again this summer.
West Ham are clearly hoping to acquire the striker, who has just returned from action at Euro 2024, where he contributed to four goals in four games for Georgia.
Despite having finally signed a number nine in Strand Larsen, Mikautadze could have offered O’Neil an alternative option in the position, being a player well-known in France for his goalscoring prowess.
In 64 career appearances for Metz, the 23-year-old has contributed to 51 goals, telling of his potency in front of goal.
It would be a shame to see the former Wolves target now join Lopetegui at West Ham, given what he could have offered to O’Neil in the upcoming season.