West Ham United are reportedly eyeing a deal for Hertha Berlin defender, Jordan Torunarigha, according to reports in Germany.
What's the word?
As per journalist Florian Plettenberg, the Hammers have been named as one of the clubs who have "enquired" about the 24-year-old centre-back ahead of a possible move this summer.
The transfer insider has revealed that the 6 foot 3 giant has rejected a move to Gent - where he spent the second half of last season on loan - opening up the possibility of a €5m (£4.2m) move elsewhere: "News #Torunarigha : Gent made an offer (about 2 million € + bonuses). Player & Hertha have declined. Wolfsburg & West Ham have inquired about him. Probably: change within the Bundesliga! Price: around 5 million € ! conversations are ongoing".
This news would suggest that David Moyes and co are plotting further centre-back additions, despite reportedly being close to confirming the signing of Rennes' Nayef Aguerd.
Moyes' next Zouma
Torunarigha may be something of an unknown quantity to most, although impressed during his temporary stint in Belgium last term, averaging 1.2 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 2.3 clearances per game from his 11 league outings, while also winning a solid 55% of his total duels and keeping four clean sheets.
The towering colossus had previously spent all of his career in his native Germany with Hertha, with the academy product scoring six goals and providing five assists in his 81 games in all competitions for the Bundesliga outfit.
Although unlikely to come straight into the starting XI at the London Stadium, the £4.5m-rated man would provide quality depth to what had been a problem area last term, with Moyes in need of additional reinforcements as the club once again get set to compete in European competition.
He would also seemingly be a player that the former Manchester United man could gradually help to nurture and improve without the weight of expectation of a big transfer fee, with the Scot having previously proven his astute nature in the transfer market.
The £21k-per-week gem - who was part of Germany's Olympic squad in Tokyo - could also prove to be the club's next Kurt Zouma, with the pair sharing a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, according to FBref.
Signed from Chelsea in a £29.8m deal last summer, the Frenchman enjoyed a fine debut campaign in east London - despite off-field controversy - averaging 1.4 interceptions and 5.5 clearances per game in his 24 Premier League appearances, while also winning an impressive 62% of his aerial duels.
Like the younger man, Zouma is also 6 foot 3 and provides an imposing presence in the backline, with his recovery speed also proving vital on occasion.
The same can be said of Torunarigha who was been labelled "mobile and comfortable on the ball", as per the Bundesliga website, albeit with one notable difference coming in the fact that he is left-footed - offering a unique option to Moyes' side.
The "rough diamond" - as he has previously been dubbed by former boss Pal Dardai - may not be of the quality of the current Hammers man just yet, although he could blossom into a player of similar ilk if a deal can be done this summer.
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