West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing 22-year-old Norwich City starlet Max Aarons in the summer transfer window.
According to Calciomercato, West Ham United are considering a move to sign right-back Max Aarons from relegation-threatened Norwich City as they look to bolster their defensive options in the summer. The 22-year-old is likely to leave Carrow Road at the end of the current season after attracting interest from some of Europe’s top clubs in recent years.
A Norwich City academy graduate, Aarons first burst onto the scene in the 2018/19 Championship season as an enterprising teenage right-back. Since then, the former England Under-21 international has helped the club gain two promotions to the Premier League and made quite an impression in the 2019/20 top-flight campaign, establishing himself as one of the most talented young right-backs in the country.
To date, the 22-year-old has made 157 competitive appearances for the Canaries in all competitions, chipping in with five goals and 14 assists. Norwich have fought off interest for Aarons in the past, but with them being on the cusp of relegation for the second time in three years, it is perhaps time for the player to pack his bags and move on to fulfil his ambitions to play at the top level for a bigger side.
Indeed, he was linked with a stunning list of elite clubs last year, with reports claiming that Manchester United, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Roma were all interested in the Englishman. And despite producing mediocre performances this season, he has no shortage of admirers, with Real Madrid keeping tabs on his progress. Now West Ham are eyeing a summer swoop for the youngster.
The Hammers are currently well-stocked in the right-back department, with Ryan Fredericks, Ben Johnson, and Vladimir Coufal all capable of stepping in that role. However, with Coufal struggling to recapture his peak form this term, Fredericks out-of-contract come summer, and the Irons’ squad getting stretched due to their European exploits, they can make do by signing a full-back like Aarons for a reasonable price.
Aarons certainly fits into the category of a typical David Moyes signing. The English ace is homegrown, versatile and has huge potential. He possesses pace in abundance, plays with real attacking intent, and would offer West Ham a spark down the right-hand side.
His offensive prowess and qualities on the ball would also provide Moyes with tactical flexibility if he does intend to go with a wing-back system. At the age of 22, he has plenty of room for further development. That said, this could be seen as a bit of a luxury signing, considering their desperate need for a new striker.
The 22-year-old is contracted at Carrow Road until 2024, and with interest for his signature rising, it is unlikely the Canaries could keep hold of their academy product beyond this season. But they could well demand a decent fee for their prized asset. Whether West Ham do launch a formal offer to sign Aarons in the summer remains to be seen.