West Ham eye transfer for highly-rated Korean star

West Ham are expected to experience a blow to their midfield core this summer.

Declan Rice and Manuel Lanzini are both expected to leave the club, as might Tomas Soucek.

Rob Newman will have to look for replacements. One such player appears to have been identified early….

West Ham are reportedly interested in a transfer for Lee Kang-in.

South Korean international Lee Kang-in is already being seen as a definite West Ham transfer target. The midfielder – who plays club football for RCD Mallorca – has a release clause of £15,800,000, and a report in Spain suggests that West Ham are willing to pay it.

The 22 year old first came to prominence on the international stage at the 2022 World Cup. He featured in all of South Korea’s games and was crucial to the team’s campaign. As a result, Atletico Madrid attempted to sign him in January.

Lee is a versatile midfielder who can play anywhere in a three. His strongest trait is quick passing, which forces defenders to move away from him and stops him from being dispossessed. He is also a direct and quick dribbler of the ball, which has allowed him to occasionally be played on the wing or as an attacking midfielder.

He has spent his entire playing career in Spain, starting with Valencia before he moved to Mallorca in 2021. This season he has played 28 games in LaLiga, scoring three goals and assisting five.

Lee made his international debut for South Korea in 2019 and has made 12 appearances for his country. Prior to that he won the golden boy award at the Under-20 World Cup in 2019.

If West Ham sign him, he is likely to play back-up to Lucas Paqueta.