Daniel Kretinsky can make Bayern Munich and Man Utd seriously jealous of West Ham | OneFootball

West Ham could become the envy of Europe's elite if they can fend off competition elsewhere to complete an eye-catching deal this summer

West Ham are looking to flex their financial muscles throughout this summer's transfer window in order to supply the ammunition for an instant Premier League return after heading back down to the Championship for the first time in 14 years back in May.

The Hammers will be among the favourites to compete for the Championship title despite having not yet made a signing aside from the permanent arrival of rarely-seen Venezuelan winger Keiber Lamadrid, although the rumour mill is only intensifying amid exciting links to a host of starlets across the EFL sphere and beyond and Nuno Espirito Santo's promotion aspirations have been boosted by the recent coup to retain talismanic captain Jarrod Bowen for one season in the second-tier with a new contract.

West Ham's squad rebuilding process is sure to accelerate in the coming days and weeks as Nuno prepares to part company with a host of wantaway stars after selling Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur in a sensational £85 million deal while bolstering his squad and ensuring that the East Londoners are well-poised to return to the top-flight at the very first time of asking.

New acquisitions will be expected at the London Stadium sooner rather than later, and one potential deal could just make West Ham the envy of some of Europe's juggernaut sides.

West Ham can make Bayern Munich, Man Utd jealous by signing Cardiff City's Dylan Lawlor

Domestic profiling is of real significance in the Hammers' recruitment policy this summer, and while they have been linked to no shortage of deals for players overseas and could indeed find real value in some lesser-explored continental markets, the Championship newcomers appear intent on looking closer to home and cherry-picking some of the finest talent within the EFL.

One player who certainly falls into that category is Dylan Lawlor, with the sought-after Cardiff City defender having been increasingly linked with a move down the M4 and to East London for a number of weeks now.

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Lawlor's name has been anything but a secret to West Ham supporters, although interest in his signature now appears to be intensifying following key recent developments.

As freshly reported by the reputable ExWHUEmployee, they are upping their efforts to sign the highly-rated central defender and have undertaken what are described as "positive talks" in recent days.

Although rival interest remains at large and reports are also suggesting that Cardiff are holding out for proposals from other sides, West Ham are continuing to advance for Lawlor and his potential arrival would represent a major coup while promising to prompt jealousy elsewhere.

That's because Lawlor, who enjoyed a stunning breakout campaign last season as Cardiff finished second in League One, has emerged among the hottest young defensive properties in all of Europe, having attracted near non-stop interest since forcing his way into Brian Barry-Murphy's side at the start of the previous campaign.

Reportedly valued at up to £10 million with two years remaining on his current contract, the 20-year-old has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur while earning admiration from a trio of first-rate Bundesliga outfits in Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, too.

It's the interest from Bayern which has been particularly prominent owing to the close relationship between Vincent Kompany and Welsh national team boss Craig Bellamy. In a season that saw Lawlor rack up 37 appearances across all competitions with the Bluebirds, he also debuted for Wales and has since gone on to earn six caps as he prepares to enjoy a glittering career at both club and international level.

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Either way, it looks as though West Ham are in the driving seat to complete a deal for Lawlor and such a development would make far bigger and more prestigious clubs jealous.

There are few - if any - players in the Championship and the EFL as a whole under the age of 21 with a higher footballing ceiling than Lawlor, who compliments sharp defensive instincts and an astute reading of the game with superb technical qualities, press-resistance beyond his years and an excellent range of passing to form the perfect left-footed ball-paying defender that elite sides invariably crave.

The Cardiff star earned notable attention for his stunning solo effort in a 4-0 victory at Doncaster Rovers back in February, which won League One's goal of the month award.

Confidently bringing possession out from defence, Lawlor proceeded to carry the ball some 70 yards while leaving three Rovers defenders for dead before calmly slotting his strike into the back of the net and leaving Bluebirds fans purring as a result.

Lawlor's profile means it's no surprise to see the degree of admiration for his services, and West Ham would be making an outstanding signing for the immediate task ahead while also keeping one firm on the future.

He won't be a cheap signing if the Hammers can pull this off, but there's every chance that a potential eight-figure deal would still represent an eventual bargain considering the future profit that could be collected for a player with such rich potential and long-term resale value.

West Ham have eyed other Cardiff City transfers

It's perhaps only natural that West Ham's EFL-centric recruitment philosophy this summer has led them to eye numerous raids on Cardiff, who have emerged as a rich hotbed of talent in the EFL after platforming and building around a litany of homegrown academy products like Lawlor in the wake of relegation over twelve months ago.

Lawlor has become one of the main beneficiaries of the appointment of Barry-Murphy, whose previous background running the ship at Manchester City's academy has prompted vast cultural and squad-building shifts within the Welsh capital and Cardiff have seen numerous players earn the courtship of West Ham.

The Hammers have been separately linked with a move for mercurial attacking-midfield captain Rubin Colwill along with Yousef Salech, who, unlike the other two, is not a product of Cardiff's burgeoning youth system but heads into next season as one of the more-feared Championship strikers out there after a stunning first season-and-a-half with the Welsh side.

Colwill and Salech could be gambles worth taking by West Ham, but the finest value is there to be had with Lawlor and Nuno could just be set to add a generational defensive talent to his ranks if talks can continue to progress in their same vein.