Koni De Winter is likely to leave Genoa this summer, with West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace among his suitors. There is significant interest from Italy as well, thanks to Inter Milan and Napoli being among the clubs to enquire.
GMS understands the versatile 22-year-old will be available this summer for between €25m and €30m. De Winter has quickly become an important figure in his current employers' defence, making 20 appearances in all competitions this season and scoring three times.
De Winter can play as a centre-back, full-back or defensive midfielder and has been a standout performer since joining Genoa permanently from Juventus. He has also won two caps for Belgium and is now targeting a place in Rudi Garcia's 2026 World Cup squad.
Hammers, Spurs and Eagles Eyeing De Winter
Belgium international could seal summer move to Premier League
West Ham are looking to add a young defender who can fit into Graham Potter's 3-4-2-1 formation. That is despite the £36.3m obligation to buy Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice being triggered recently. The Hammers could even decide to do a double raid of Genoa's talents, with interest in midfielder Morten Frendrup as well as De Winter.
Tottenham will make finding another centre-back a priority, especially knowing Atletico Madrid are intent on signing Cristian Romero, and the Argentine is also keen to play in LaLiga. It remains to be seen whether Atletico Madrid can meet Spurs' valuation, but a bid is expected in the early part of the summer.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Koni De Winter has been averaging 4.6 ball recoveries per Serie A outing this season
Crystal Palace want an extra central defender after Trevoh Chalobah's loan from Chelsea was cut short in January. The Eagles are braced for bids for their captain Marc Guehi as well, having rejected offers in excess of £65m from Newcastle United last summer and Tottenham in January. Guehi is heading into the final year of his current contract, meaning a sale is not ruled out this summer.
Napoli have already pre-agreed a deal to sign 20-year-old Empoli centre-back Luca Marianucci this summer for a fee of €9m, but are working on another defensive reinforcement.
Inter are looking to bring in a young centre-back who will ideally arrive in time for the Club World Cup. The Champions League finalists' president Beppe Marotta is one of the figures driving the move. Along with Di Winter, Udinese's Oumar Solet and Bologna's Sam Beukema are both under consideration.
All statistics courtesy of Sofascore - correct as of 12/05/2025