West Ham United Want To Sign 28-Year-Old Genoa Left-back: Should The Hammers Prioritize His €20m+ Signing? | OneFootball

West Ham’s defensive rebuild are already underway. With the departure of Aaron Cresswell, one of the club’s most consistent players of the last decade, the left flank is exposed and in urgent need of reinforcement.

Graham Potter, in his first full summer in charge, seems determined to revamp that area with firm decisions. While Emerson Palmieri remains an option, his contract expires in 2026, and his role has been diminishing. Oliver Scarles is still more of a promise than a certainty. In this situation, the move to strengthen that defensive sector seems inevitable.

West Ham United look to Italy: Aaron Martin enters the radar after Cresswell’s departure

According to Football Insider, the Hammers have turned their attention to Aaron Martin, the Spanish full-back from Genoa. The 28-year-old left-footed player recorded eight assists in Serie A, a remarkable record for his position, and has become a sought-after figure for several European clubs.

His contract with the Italian side runs until June 2026, but West Ham are considering formalising their interest with a concrete offer in the coming weeks. Valued for his ability to play both as a pure full-back and in more advanced roles, Martin appears to be an immediate solution for a team in the midst of a structural transition.

Opinion:

However, is it worth spending more than £17 million on a player who has had little experience outside Spain and Italy? West Ham have two options: go for a proven reinforcement like Martin or rely on the internal growth of Scarles. The first option provides immediate guarantees, but it is not without financial and adaptation risks.

The second is based on patience and a long-term commitment that requires more time than Potter’s project may be able to offer. Martin offers depth, tactical alternatives and an offensive profile that could revitalise the team’s left wing. His arrival would bring experience and real competition to an area where Emerson is no longer undisputed.

It is also worth considering whether renewing Palmieri’s contract is a more sensible option. However, Martin, at the peak of his career and with the ability to adapt to modern systems, seems a bolder bet, yes, but also more in line with an ambitious project. Potter needs dynamism and precision from the back, and the Spaniard could be just what is missing.