West Ham agree deal 'in principle' to sign Premier League star amid 'hijack' threat

West Ham are said to be pushing to wrap up a deal to sign a soon to be Premier League free agent. The Hammers need to add significant pieces to their squad ahead of next season, with Graham Potter needing to put his own stamp on this squad.

It has been a difficult start for Potter, who has struggled to improve the club’s form since taking over from Julen Lopetegui. Though, there is an understanding that he has not had chance to build a squad around his needs, and so he will be given the chance to go into next season with a relatively clean slate.

West Ham already will be working on solutions ahead of the summer transfer window, and we have already seen transfer links aplenty across a variety of positions. One of the players to be linked is Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters, who is going to be leaving the St Mary’s Stadium this summer.

The full-back is out of contract with the Saints, and he is not going to be joining them in the Championship again given there is no doubt that he will receive offers from the Premier League. According to Hammers News, West Ham have already agreed terms ‘in principle’ with Walker-Peters, but it’s added that Tottenham are attempting to hijack the deal, hoping to take the full-back back to North London.

Walker-Peters came through at Spurs and made 12 league appearances for the senior side before joining Southampton on loan and then a permanent deal. Since becoming a permanent Saints player, Walker-Peters has made 165 league appearances across the Premier League and Championship.

The two-time England international will be a smart signing on a free transfer, and his ability to get up and down the wing will suit Potter when he looks to play a back five, while he is also a competent enough defender to play in a four.

Walker-Peters has not addressed his contract situation since November, when he told BBC: “It's easy - I'm a footballer, I want to play football. While I'm here, I'm enjoying playing under Russell and with my team-mates. I have only got a few months left on my contract, but my main focus is on keeping Southampton in the Premier League."

Southampton chief Johannes Spors has previously said of the situation: "I don't want to speak too much about what we are doing there really." Since then, Southampton have been relegated in record time, and they are yet to surpass the worst-ever points total in the modern version of the top flight, needing two points from their last seven games to surpass that total, although they have only picked up 10 points in 31 games, so another two points is not a given.

Walker-Peters dropped down to the Championship with the Saints last time around, but now 27 years of age and almost certain to be offered a Premier League deal, he is not likely to show such loyalty this time around, and few can begrudge him for that.

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