The super high-risk £15m West Ham signing that could prove hugely controversial

With a disappointing 2024/25 season fresh in the rear view mirror, West Ham are heading into the transfer window with some work to do – and if stories from South America prove true, then they could be starting their summer shopping by taking a significant gamble.

This week, Sport Witness have reported on claims that West Ham are in negotiations with 23-year-old Argentine defender Kevin Lomónaco and his club, Independiente, over a move that would see them pay his release clause of $20m (£14.7m). It’s a potentially risky move, both because of his playing style and his past…

Why West Ham could sign Kevin Lomónaco this summer

Lomónaco, who has played for Argentina’s Under-17s but has yet to feature for his senior national side, has played his entire career to date in Latin America, starting out with Lanús before moving to Brazilian side Red Bull Bragantino in 2022.

Having made just 20 league appearances in Brazil – the reasons for which will be covered later – he was sent on loan to both Tigre and Independiente in his home country, with the latter signing him permanently after some impressive performances. With the ink on his new two-year contract still wet, however, he could be on his way to England.

At first glance, Lomónaco looks like the archetypal centre-half. Despite his strong build and 6’4” height, however, he is a far more modern type of defender than might be expected – and above all else, he loves to dribble.

Film of Lomónaco inevitably highlights his proclivity to carry the ball out of defence whenever possible, often driving deep into opposition territory and sometimes beating two or three opposing players as he goes. If Graham Potter wants his team to have more dynamism as they build from the back, then the Argentine certainly makes sense as a potential signing.

Whether he would be as potent of a counter-attacking threat in the Premier League is open to debate, and plenty of footage shows up the kind of heavy touches as he tries to trick his way past opposing players that could be punished at the highest level, but his intent is evident and the track record of building attacking moves from deep positions is there.

And while he’s certainly more adventurous than the average centre-back, he doesn’t shirk his defensive duties – positionally astute and the kind of player who avoids lunging into tackles or overcommitting himself one-on-one, he has succeeded in shutting down at least 75% of attempted dribbles against him over the past two seasons. That’s a hugely impressive statistic which suggests that he can handle the kind of dynamic and daring forwards that are an increasing feature of the Premier League.

There’s no doubt that Lomónaco is a high-risk player, however. His willingness to take the ball out of defence and surge upfield creates opportunities but leaves holes in behind, and if he doesn’t improve his close control then he could generate as many counter-attacks for the other side as he does for his own at a higher level. But it isn’t just his playing style that may worry West Ham fans.

Why signing Lomónaco could prove controversial

In 2023, Lomónaco – then 21 years old – became one of a number of players implicated in a spot fixing scandal that made headlines in Brazilian football.

The defender admitted to receiving a bribe of 70,000 reals (around £9,300 at current exchange rates) in return for deliberately picking up a yellow card in a match against América. Lomónaco was one of four players who agreed to aid the public prosecutor’s office as a witness in order to avoid a potential six-year prison term, but he didn’t escape punishment for his part in the affair.

Lomónaco was handed a 380-day ban from football which saw him miss the entirety of the 2023 Brazilian season and led to Bragantino’s decision to let him leave. For his part, the player claimed that he “only did it because I thought it wasn’t something that would harm the team” and claimed that he only received 30,000 reals of his ‘fee’ for the booking. Perhaps idiosyncratically, he was also fined – but only to the tune of 25,000 reals.

Either way, his indiscretion doesn’t seem to be putting West Ham off. Sport Witness claim that negotiations are underway and that Independiente have acknowledged that he is liable to leave so long as his release clause is paid in full.

Reports also suggest interested from the Mexican league and Inter Miami were linked over the winter, so there may be competition, but the lure of the Premier League would likely give West Ham a strong edge if other teams do weigh in with a formal offer – which, if the original reports are accurate, sounds very likely.

West Ham would be taking a considerable chance in signing Lomónaco. Even if his role in spot fixing is accepted as being firmly in the past, the drawn-out investigation of similar allegations against Lucas Paquetá will keep the issue firmly in the memory – and likely in the media.

Meanwhile, West Ham would be signing a player who has all of the tools to be a highly successful defender, but who also takes plenty of chances on the pitch. This is a move which would be a real roll of the dice if it comes off – high risk and high reward, perhaps in equal measure.