Julen Lopetegui makes final transfer request at West Ham United: View

Julen Lopetegui wants competition for Vladimir Coufal as his final request of West Ham in the transfer window

According to the paper’s website on 5 August the new Irons boss has asked for a right-back signing to be made as the last item on his wish list after key signings were secured elsewhere.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the main target at the position and Manchester United are “eager” to sell the Englishman but there is now reportedly an issue as the Hammers can’t afford his wages and he wants a pay off at Old Trafford.

Noussair Mazraoui has already been lined up as the replacement from Bayern Munich, with the Irons having looked at the Moroccan international but now “resigned” to missing out on him as they push for Wan-Bissaka instead.

West Ham want Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United

Ben Johnson’s exit created the need for cover at right-back and Lopetegui clearly has his eye on upgrading on Coufal, who is approaching his 32nd birthday.

The Czech remains a capable performer but the linked names would arguably all expect to start, whether it was Wan-Bissaka, Mazraoui or Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters.

A huge load of the required transfer business has now been done in a short space of time thanks to strong work by Tim Steidten.

The long-awaited striker and another starting-quality wide man have been confirmed in the form of Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville respectively.

And despite a delay to the deal being sealed central midfield reinforcement is on the brink in the form of Guido Rodriguez.

There have been tentatively positive signs building towards the Wan-Bissaka deal for some time [Dharmesh Sheth, 3 August] so the fact it is dragging along is bound to be a frustration.

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany reported on 1 August that personal terms had been verbally agreed with the former Crystal Palace man, but if that is dependent on a pay-cut at the London Stadium following a pay-off at Old Trafford that is proving an issue.

But if INEOS want to move the Englishman on to bring in Mazraoui [Fabrizio Romano, 29 July] then they would surely need to compromise somewhere, especially if it is the case that the Irons are now willing to pay the full asking price.