West Ham are closing in on the signing of former England and Tottenham defender Kyle Walker-Peters.
The 28-year-old is currently a free agent after his contract at Southampton expired this summer and is set to become Graham Potter’s second signing of the summer.
Walker-Peters had looked likely to sign for Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer at Besiktas only for the Turkish club to dramatically pull the plug on the move after the full-back delayed his medical after an approach from the Hammers.
Talks with West Ham are understood to have gone smoothly with a medical due on Friday ahead of a three-year deal.
‘It is publicly known that the arrival of professional football player Kyle Walker-Peters, with whom we previously announced an agreement in principle and invited him to Istanbul for a medical examination, has been postponed,’ read a statement from Besiktas.
‘Today, Kyle Walker-Peters notified us, requesting an extension. Consequently, our club has withdrawn its transfer.’
Besiktas have called off a move for ex-Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team were unhappy after Walker-Peters asked to delay the move
Walker-Peters will be the second defender signed by the Hammers this summer after Senegal international El Hadji Malick Diouf joined from Slavia Prague for an initial £22million.
West Ham are also interested in a sensational double swoop for Liverpool duo Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton.
Senior West Ham sources told Mail Sport that the club would love to sign both players but talks over an agreement were said to be a long way off.
Liverpool value Elliott, who starred for England’s under-21s en route to winning the Euros, at £40m, which is likely to be too steep for West Ham.
The Hammers are also believed to be discussing the possibility of a loan with an option to buy.
West Ham had been unable to make any moves for players until they sold winger Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham for £55m.
The arrival of Walker-Peters on a free transfer will help boost the squad without stretching the finances and provide cover at full-back following the departure of Vladimir Coufal and with Diouf and Aaron Wan-Bissaka likely to be absent at the Africa Cup of Nations.