West Ham looking to revive interest in Moroccan fullback

West Ham United have been forced to play without a natural right back for much of the seasons due to various injuries and fitness problems for first choice right-back Sam Byram. As the January transfer window ground to a halt about a month ago, it was rumored that West Ham were interested in 25 year-old St Etienne fullback Kevin Malcuit. Mulcuit has been a versatile player for St Etienne, having played as a right fullback, as a wing-back and in midfield for the Ligue 1 club.

West Ham apparently had two bids, 7 million pounds and 8.5 million pounds both rejected before the window closed, but now The Sun is reporting that West Ham will go back to St Etienne once the summer transfer window opens to restart talks. The French club is rumored to be holding out for 10 million pounds for the player who was purchased for a mere 700,000 pounds in 2015 from Ligue 2 Chamois Niortais. He has been a vital part of the St Etienne team that finished 6th last season and qualified for the Europa League and currently sits in 5th place in the table.

With Manchester United playing St Etienne in the Europa League tomorrow, it is a good time for Hammer fans to see how Malcuit plays against top-end Premier League talent. It might be a good time to gauge how he would fair week-in, week-out against players like Paul Pogba and Daley Blind instead of guessing based on his performances against other teams in Ligue 1.