Aston Villa and West Ham United are reportedly keen on signing 24-year-old French defender Oumar Solet on a free transfer.
According to a report by Graeme Bailey on HITC, Oumar Solet is a target for Aston Villa and West Ham United. The French defender is a free agent after Red Bull Salzburg terminated his contract last week. However, he will unlikely remain in the market for a long time, with several Premier League clubs keen on signing him.
The Oumar Solet story
Oumar Solet has been a hot property in the market for a long time, and several well-known clubs mulled over signing him in the summer transfer window. However, the Frenchman remained with Red Bull Salzburg, entering the final 12 months of his contract with Die Bullen.
But the Austrian giants have terminated the player’s contract, and he has become a free agent nearly 12 months ahead of schedule. The 24-year-old spent four years with Red Bull Salzburg, turning out over 100 times while chipping in with four goals and five assists.
Meanwhile, Oumar Solet’s free-agent status has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. However, a move to the Premier League might be on the cards, with Aston Villa, West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, and Wolverhampton Wanderers keen on signing the French defender on a free transfer.
Premier League move on the horizon?
Aston Villa’s interest in Oumar Solet is understandable. The West Midlands club did not sign a centre-back in the summer transfer window while parting ways with Calum Chambers. With Tyrone Mings recovering from a long-term knee injury and Diego Carlos facing an uncertain future, Solet is a viable target.
As for West Ham United, they attempted to sign Solet in the summer transfer window before a move failed to materialise. The Hammers have been keen on landing another centre-back despite bringing Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman this past summer. However, after accepting loan offers for Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, Solet is an option worth considering for West Ham.
The Hammers have also been pushing for Joel Matip. However, Solet is a younger alternative to the former Liverpool defender. However, with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Wolverhampton Wanderers also keen on signing the 24-year-old French defender, the battle for his signature might go down the wire.
