West Ham inch closer to securing coveted £75k‑a‑week target as Fulham boss Marco Silva shoots down interest
West Ham United have taken a significant stride forward in their pursuit of Southampton right-back Kyle Walker‑Peters, with reports in April revealing that the club have reached an agreement in principle with the player. The claret-and‑blue are prepared to offer Walker‑Peters a lucrative deal worth £75,000 per week once his contract with Southampton expires .
Adding to West Ham’s optimism, Fulham manager Marco Silva publicly dismissed links suggesting his side would derail the Hammers’ plans by making a late swoop. Speaking ahead of Fulham’s 1‑0 loss to Aston Villa, Silva firmly stated that rumours about Fulham chasing Walker‑Peters—or even Ben Johnson, another former West Ham defender—were untrue. He stressed that Fulham’s top priority is to secure a renewal for Kenny Tete, not to target West Ham’s potential incoming player .
With Fulham ruling out involvement, the path for West Ham appears clearer. Still, they face competition from other London suitors—Tottenham Hotspur remain highly interested. Walker‑Peters is a Spurs academy graduate, and that connection could tip the balance .
Meanwhile, West Ham’s interest in Silva as a managerial target also made headlines earlier in the season. The club reportedly made tentative enquiries to Fulham regarding Silva, but were deterred by the £8 million release clause in his contract—a fee that ultimately prevented any move from materializing .
In summary, West Ham now appear well-positioned in terms of player recruitment. They’ve reportedly reached terms with their £75k‑a‑week defender target, and Silva’s public denial of Fulham’s involvement removes a potential stumbling block. As long as Spurs—or any other interested party—fail to make a decisive breakthrough, Walker‑Peters may well continue his career in East London.
