West Ham United have a verbal agreement with Lugano defender Albian Hajdari | OneFootball

West Ham United have secured a verbal agreement with Lugano defender Albian Hajdari, according to German journalist Dominik Schneider.

West Ham manager Graham Potter wants to strengthen his defensive options ahead of 2025-26, and the 22-year-old Swiss is on his radar.

Hajdari has a €5 million release clause in his contract, but the London Stadium club have yet to trigger it.

However, the former Juventus youth player is keen to join the Hammers, and a move could be on the cards in the coming weeks depending on how talks go between both clubs.

West Ham have signed Senegalese defender El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague while French defender Jean-Clair Todibo has joined in a permanent deal after his loan spell last term.

English defender Kyle Walker-Peters has also agreed to join the Hammers on a three-year deal after leaving Southampton at the end of his contract, and Hajdari could be next.

He brings much-needed experience to the table having played over 60 games across the last two seasons for the Swiss Super League club, and a move to the Premier League would appeal to such a player who is desperate to prove himself after failing to make the grade at Juve.

His ability to play at right-back and huge potential could also have attracted Potter to him, and the Lugano star is willing to snub other suitors to secure a move to West Ham.

The likes of Bournemouth, Lazio, Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad have all been credited with interest in Hajdari, but it appears the Hammers are favourites to land him.

It remains to be seen whether he will become their next summer signing, but Potter wants quality recruitment as soon as possible with preparations for 2025-26 already underway, and the club will be working to make needed additions to the squad in the coming weeks.