Spezia rejected West Ham United’s offer for central defender Jakub Kiwior, as they might wait before a sale.
According to Italian outlet La Nazione, West Ham United’s offer for defender Jakub Kiwior was rejected by Spezia, with a sale seemingly getting complicated with the World Cup approaching.
West Ham United have been on the lookout for a central defensive option before the end of the transfer window. They brought in highly rated centre-back Nayef Aguerd earlier this summer, only to see the defender suffer an injury in pre-season that will keep him out for the next few months.
Additionally, Issa Diop departed for Fulham, while there are fitness concerns with Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna. The situation had made signing a new centre-back imperative, and Moyes had his eyes on a move for Jakub Kiwior of Spezia.
West Ham United acted on their reported interest in Kiwior by tabling a €12 million bid for the Polish international. Spezia rejected the proposal, with their intentions with the defender still unclear.
Kiwior has a contract until 2025, which could keep Spezia in a relaxed position, knowing they could get better value next summer. Alternatively, they might be hoping the defender’s presence at the winter World Cup could enhance his value, building up towards a sale in the January market.
Kiwior is steadily becoming a mainstay in the Polish national team. Current manager Czeslaw Michniewicz knows the player well from coaching the U-21 national team. During June’s Nations League Group A games, he played Kiwior for 90 minutes against Belgium and the Netherlands.
There’s a belief Kiwior will be a mainstay at the backline for the World Cup, although it could be conditioned upon him playing regularly at the club level this season. At West Ham, there could be doubts over his involvement, as he may find himself down the pecking order. So the 22-year-old would be hesitant to leave the club.
Furthermore, Spezia are not considering offers for the defender for now either. However, the rejection of the offer is unlikely to come as a blow for West Ham United as they have landed Thilo Kehrer from PSG, which should address their immediate need for defensive reinforcements.
