West Ham are planning to complete the signing of Genk defensive midfielder Kara Mbodj in the summer, having failed to push the deal through ahead of Monday night's transfer deadline.
The 25-year-old defender was one of Sam Allardyce's key targets on the final day of the window, but concerns over specific contractual terms and the inability to proceed with a full medical (due to time constraints) saw the deal fall through.Despite that, West Ham plan to revisit their bid in the summer, with the two clubs having already agreed a fee worth in the region of £4.5million. The deal's completion also depends on whether Sam Allardyce, whose contract expires at the end of the season, will remain in charge thereafter.
Mbodj, a Senegal international, began his career in Norway with Tromso - who he represented for two years before moving to Belgium in a €1.4million switch (in December 2012). He featured alongside West Ham's Cheik Kouyate in this year's African Cup of Nations.
Now managed by Alex McLeish, who used to work for David Sullivan at Birmingham, Mbodj is the latest of a long line of Premier League-bound stars to come from Genk; others to make Premier League moves in recent years include Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Christian Benteke.
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