It always felt too good to be true, the prospect of West Ham United welcoming to the Premier League one of the most exciting young defenders in European football to the tune of just £12.5 million.
Well, that’s probably because it was. Too good to be true indeed.
According to latest reports, if West Ham United are to join the bidding war, any offers must now begin at £20 million-plus.
Suggestions that Graham Potter could lure Koni de Winter to the London Stadium while stumping up a mere £12.5 million in the process, well, the level of interest from the Premier League and abroad in the Genoa centre-back meant that the fees involved were always likely to end up on the expensive side.
Manchester United are hot on Koni de Winter’s heels already. Everton like the two-time Belgium international as well.
That is without mentioning Inter Milan and Napoli. The two teams going head to head for the Scudetto this weekend could also find themselves eyeball-to-eyeball for De Winter’s signature.
West Ham, meanwhile, have none other than bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur to thank as the former Juventus youngster sees his value extend beyond the £20 million mark. A summer of intense speculation, at least for De Winter, is only just beginning.
Tottenham make £20m bid for West Ham target Koni de Winter
According to La Repubblica, Tottenham have made the first move for the Antwerp-born 6ft 3ins central defender.
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Perhaps emboldened by their midweek Europa League triumph – thus securing a return to the Champions League – a richer, suddenly more attractive Spurs side have reportedly submitted a first offer. One worth 24 million euros.
La Repubblica add that Razvan Rat – the former West Ham left-back – attended the Europa League final in Bilbao. The official reason for his trip to the Basque Country is not disclosed.
Though with Man United and Tottenham both keen on De Winter, it may not be too much of a stretch to suggest he was there to discuss potential transfers with either club’s recruitment staff.
Like Dean Huijsen before him – Bournemouth’s Real Madrid-bound sensation – De Winter is another young defender who slipped through Juventus’ fingers. He only made two first-team appearances for the Bianconeri, joining Genoa in 2023 on an initial loan deal.
“He has no fear and this will be an advantage for his career,” legendary Juventus stopper Leonardo Bonucci said of his one-time teammate.
“He has enormous room for improvement. He has a whole career ahead of him.”
De Winter could be a centre-back and a full-back at West Ham
Most of De Winter’s appearances for Genoa this term have come at centre-half. He has, however, featured on the right-hand side on occasions.
“Koni is a central defender in all respects,” Fabrizio Lioli, De Winter’s agent, told Tutto Juve. “[But] he is tactically intelligent, he is good technically, he has pace, so he can play as a full-back as he did in the youth teams.”
West Ham are interested in Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu, while the Hammers agreed terms with Kyle Walker-Peters in April on a prospective £75,000-a-week contract.
The London Stadium outfit appear to be prioritising versatility in terms of their defensive recruits. De Winter is another who could come to represent two signings rolled into one.
Then again, with funds tight at West Ham and as Champions League-bound Tottenham make the first move, this may already be a battle Potter and co are destined to lose.