West Ham are among a group of Premier League clubs interested in raiding relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer.
Wolves’ relegation back to the Championship was made official after West Ham’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace last week.
It means there will likely be something of a mass exodus at Molineux this summer as Rob Edwards attempts to rebuild a squad capable of navigating an immediate return to the top-flight next season.
Despite such a disappointing campaign, there will be a number of players in Wolves’ squad who will still be attractive to Premier League clubs.
And the Hammers are reportedly one of those, with a defender supposedly in Nuno Espirito Santo‘s crosshairs ahead of the summer.
West Ham interested in Santiago Bueno
According to Sport Witness, the Hammers are interested in Santiago Bueno ahead of the summer, with Leeds United, Brentford and Crystal Palace also keen on the Uruguay international’s services.
Bueno has established himself as a regular in Edwards’ defence since the turn of the year, putting in a string of impressive performances despite Wolves struggling for form throughout the campaign.
It’s claimed the 27-year-old is not interested in spending a season in England’s second tier next season and will instead favour a move back to the Premier League.
Should West Ham secure Premier League survival, they would likely be an attractive destination for Bueno if a deal can be agreed.
Chasing centre-back makes sense for West Ham
Any deal would likely rest on whether or not the Hammers attempt to make Axel Disasi’s loan from Chelsea permanent, given the impact he’s had since arriving in east London in January. It could be said that Bueno is being lined up as a possible Disasi alternative, should a deal for the Frenchman fail to happen.
There have also been reports that Konstantinos Mavropanos could be on the move this summer, despite establishing himself as a vital member of Nuno’s backline.
Meanwhile, Jean-Clair Todibo’s future at London Stadium remains in question after losing his place in the Hammers’ starting XI in recent months.
So chasing a centre-back does make sense for West Ham ahead of the summer, especially given they could be set to lose all three centre-backs in the squad.
It’s not yet known what kind of fee Wolves would demand for Bueno’s signature, but if Nuno does choose to raid his former club this summer, the centre-back would be a decent addition.
With over 80 appearances for Wolves since signing from Girona in 2023, Bueno has often had to be patient for his chance to show what he can do at Premier League level.
He has often had to make do with appearances off the bench but has started the last 15 games for Wolves, and has also chipped in with two goals and two assists this season.
That run of performances, despite Wolves’ woes, has proven that he is capable at this level, and it’s no surprise several Premier League clubs are considering his services ahead of next season.
