West Ham, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest eye player who ‘wants’ to leave current club

West Ham are reportedly keen on Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou. The Hammers are being linked with a summer swoop for the Ivory Coast international.

According to a report by The Sun, David Moyes’ side are ‘ready’ to battle it out to land the centre-back who ‘wants’ to leave the Bundesliga at the end of this season. However, there is competition for his signature and fellow Premier League sides Leicester City and Nottingham Forest have also been credited with an interest.

West Ham could see the 22-year-old as a useful long-term addition to their defensive department. Following Craig Dawson’s winter exit to Wolves and with Angelo Ogbonna not getting any younger, the London club will need to bring in reinforcements in that area soon.

Kossounou joined Leverkusen back in 2021 and has since made 50 appearances in all competitions, 17 of which have come in this campaign. His game time has dried up a bit this term under Xabi Alonso and he may well leave in the near future.

Prior to his transfer to Germany, he had spells in Ivory Coast at ASEC Mimosas, Sweden at Hammarby and Belgium with Club Brugge. West Ham are now said to be keen but may have to face rival interest from Leicester and Forest.