The dramatic end to the January transfer window may seem like yesterday but, as the Premier League season hurtles towards its conclusion, attention is starting to turn to the opening of the summer market. For West Ham and Crystal Palace, there should be one transfer at the top of their list in a no brainer move.
The Premier League this week confirmed a change to the summer window with an earlier opening due to the Club World Cup, before a brief closure and then reopening again. That’s of little consequence to sides such as the Hammers and Eagles but could prove especially key in negotiating with free agents where drawn-out club-to-club discussions over a fee are not relevant.
There are several top flight stars, including first team members at the London Stadium and Selhurst Park, out of contract this summer. One of those is Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
Kyle Walker-Peters set to leave Southampton this summer
The former Tottenham Hotspur man is still just 27 years old despite already racking up 220 first team appearances. An impressive 142 of those have come in the Premier League with the defender a proven talent at the highest level.
Sitting rock bottom of the Premier League table and eight points adrift of safety, the Saints looked condemned to relegation. Walker-Peters has 43 Championship appearances to his name but is too good for the second tier and will no doubt want a Premier League return.
Thankfully for the full-back, that should be pretty easy to ensure. Walker-Peters is set to become a free agent at the end of the campaign with the five-year contract he signed when joining Southampton permanently in 2020 for £12 million.
West Ham and Crystal Palace should swoop for defender
West Ham and Crystal Palace should be front of the queue to enter discussions with Walker-Peters. At the London Stadium, the experienced Vladimir Coufal has been a stalwart in recent years but is out of contract.
The right decision from the Hammers would be to let the 32-year-old seek a new adventure. Graham Potter – rightly – wants a younger squad and the way Coufal has thrown his toys out of the pram recently is not a good look for the club.
The Czech international has been fairly ousted from his role by former Manchester United man Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is enjoying an impressive first campaign in London. It’s hard to see Walker-Peters taking Wan-Bissaka’s starting spot but he would add some more youthful competition. What’s more, he can play on either flank, so could deputise and help with the development of the promising Ollie Scarles.
Meanwhile, at Crystal Palace, there is talk of transfer interest in Daniel Munoz. Chelsea were said to be weighing up a summer move earlier this year with Football Insider citing Manchester City and FC Barcelona interest more recently.
Walker-Peters compared to Philipp Lahm
Munoz has been a reliable defender under Oliver Glasner and excelled in that role but, having paid just £7 million to sign the player, a huge offer from one of those European giants would surely be too hard to turn down, especially with Walker-Peters a potential ready-made replacement available for free.
There’s no doubting the player’s attacking influence either. Former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl even went as far as to compare the defender to the legendary Philipp Lahm. He told The Daily Echo: “We brought Kyle on the 10, a good opportunity and the first time we did it this way. I think this can be also something for the future. Kyle is an unbelievably smart footballer with a super football intelligence. He plays, left-back, right-back and now on the 10.
“In the sessions sometimes he plays six also, so he can play every position. He remembers me a little bit of Philipp Lahm I must say, because he is so good on the ball, he always has good decisions. He can run and makes nearly any mistakes. He is getting better and better and this is what you need on this position.”
‘No brainer’: West Ham and Crystal Palace must sign Philipp Lahm-esque Premier League free agent – opinion
