NOT FOR the first time, ambitious Crystal Palace have been linked with an audacious plan to tempt one of West Ham’s most expensive-ever signings away across London in the coming transfer window. Coming hot on the heels of said player being dropped from Nuno’s starting eleven you have to wonder whether there might be some substance in the story.
Former manager’s favourite Maximilian Kilman has been benched with fit again Dinos Mavropanos taking his place for the Old Trafford fixture, Kilman an 86 th minute substitute to shore up the defence and protect the point. Which must have been something of a shock to the player who has been pretty much an ever present in Lopetegui’s and Potter’s starting sides, sometimes seemingly selected on his price tag rather than his week on week performances.
Rumours of Crystal Palace’s interest in Kilman persist – bizarrely
Caughtoffside’s ‘breaking news’ article today quotes Footballinsider247’s Friday piece, seeking to add to add weight to the rumour that the Eagles see Kilman as a successor to Marc Guehi should his move to Liverpool go ahead next month: Several reports have suggested kiln might depart east London just 18 months into a seven year contract. They suggest:
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“…Palace have set their sights on a January move for Kilman, with the former Wolves defender falling out of favour with Nuno Espirito Santo“.
I’ll bet there’s no plan to match the £40 million Lopetegui paid for him in 2024. With luck, the Hammers might net £30 million which will still stand them in at another transfer window loss.
Probably pound-for-pound the biggest disappointment of the 2024 intake, much was expected from the former Wolves captain who has delivered bang average performances week after week with no redress as the Irons lack the competition for places to ditch those defenders not performing.
And as for ‘tempting’ Kilman across London? I’m sure there’ll be thousands of Hammers fans who’ll volunteer to drive him to Selhurst Park if it helps move the defender on.
