West Ham United are reportedly still pressing ahead in their attempts to capture Eintracht Frankfurt star Filip Kostic this summer. The Hammers are in talks for numerous targets after completing four major summer signings already for manager David Moyes.
The club are thought to attempting moves for both Lille midfielder Amadou Onana and Kostic of Eintracht Frankfurt, while they have also reportedly activated the £17.5m release clause of Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet.
According to The Evening Standard, West Ham owners GSB are ‘willing to meet’ Frankfurt’s asking price with negotiations being held over the 29-year-old’s signing.
While the report claims ‘convincing’ Filip Kostic is proving ‘more difficult’, it is however believed that he is ‘tempted by a move to London’ and that the Irons haven’t given up hope of securing his signature.
The 48-time Serbian wing-back – who has spent the past four seasons in Frankfurt – is reportedly set to be available for a cut-price fee of around €20m (£17m), with just a year remaining on his existing deal with the German outfit.
What would Filip Kostic bring to West Ham United?
Providing David Moyes gets his man, the Hammers could be acquiring the services of one of Europe’s most accomplished and creative wing-backs over the past year or so.
Comfortable in playing within any position down the left-flank, Kostic would offer a real potent and decisive attacking threat to David Moyes’ side, having been in truly sparkling form both domestically and in European competition in recent seasons.
Last season saw the 29-year-old register an impressive tally of seven goals and 15 assists in all competitions, notably recording three goals and six assists in just 11 appearances during the Bundesliga side’s triumphant Europa League run – beating his potential employers en route to the showpiece.
For Frankfurt overall, the £43k-per-week wing wizard has registered an impeccable 33 goals and 63 assists in 169 games across all fronts, with that stunning record leading many to describe the Serbian has an “assist machine”.
With the Hammers looking to considerably improve their attacking play, especially down the left-flank, pairing both Kostic and Cornet could well prove such astonishing and devastating business by GSB. Aaron Cresswell’s fitness issues, coupled with Arthur Masuaku recently departing on-loan to Turkish giants Besiktas means David Moyes desperately needs assured acquisitions down the left flanks and Kostic perfectly fits the bill.
The former Stuttgart man also compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues in a number of metrics, ranking in the top 2% for progressive passes received, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area.
Filip Kostic also ranks in the top 1% for assists per 90, expected assists, and key passes (2.80) and considering West Ham’s capabilities from crosses into the penalty area, the Serb’s stats from such traits means he’d prove a crucial weapon. He ranks in the 1% of full-backs for crosses into the penalty area (1.55), top 1% for dead-ball deliveries/passes (14.84) and in the top 1% for crosses (4.33). Imagine the number of goals the likes of new signing Gianluca Scamacca could register or the Hammers’ array of tall and lanky centre-backs from set-pieces.
Having largely featured in a wing-back berth at the Waldstadion, it remains to be seen just where the 29-year-old wizard would lineup at the London Stadium were he to be plucked in the coming weeks, although his versatility could potentially see him usurp Aaron Cresswell at left-back and at left wing-back if Moyes decides to change tact to a 3 at the back system.
David Moyes is certainly building something special in East London, the signings he’s completed mark the continuation of an impressive era the former Everton coach has built and moulded at the London Stadium.
Scamacca, Flynn Downes, Alphonse Areola, and Nayef Aguerd all represent sturdy additions to strengthen their impressive squad, but also bringing in the likes of Filip Kostic and Maxwel Cornet are simply the icing on the cake on what’s been a terrific summer of business from GSB and David Moyes.
