West Ham are facing fresh competition in their push to sign Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck, with Aston Villa stepping in late with a £30 million offer.

Bisseck, a top summer target identified by new boss Graham Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay, had been seen as a key piece in West Ham’s summer rebuild before Villa’s intervention threatened to derail those plans.

Aston Villa try to hijack West Ham’s Bisseck deal with £30m offer

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Villa are ready to pay €35 million (£30m) for Bisseck, just as West Ham were preparing to finalise an agreement once Inter wrapped up their season. The Hammers have been linked to the German international throughout this summer transfer window, with interest dating back over a year.

Sources in Italy suggest West Ham had already established a loose understanding with Inter, conditional on the Serie A side completing a deal for Chelsea defender Benoît Badiashile first. But the plan hit a snag after Bisseck picked up a suspected ligament injury during the Champions League final, which could complicate both the timing and structure of any deal.

Villa’s offer has quickly changed the dynamics. The bid is believed to be attractive to both Inter, who need funds for new signings, and Bisseck himself, who’s keen for regular minutes in order to work his way back into Germany’s national side.

West Ham’s groundwork at risk

Bisseck has been firmly on West Ham’s list for over a year, with a reported £25.5m offer rejected under the previous regime. Since Potter and Macaulay took charge, their interest has only grown stronger.

Former coach David Nielsen once described the defender as the “prototype of the modern centre-back”, praising his physical traits, technical ability, and athleticism.

Internally, West Ham had prioritised Bisseck as a statement signing to usher in their new era. But Villa’s sudden move, fuelled by stronger financial backing at this stage, has put the club in a tough spot as they try to keep pace without breaking their budget strategy.

Different financial strategies at play

Villa’s new financial flexibility comes off the back of their recent decision to sell their women’s team, a move designed to create compliance space under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. It’s a route Chelsea have also used before.

West Ham haven’t taken that approach. They’re expected to wait for some key outgoings before making major moves, which leaves them vulnerable when other clubs strike quickly.

Warning sign in contrasting transfer strategies

While both clubs have kept a fairly steady pace in the early part of the window, the Bisseck chase is starting to show clear strategic gaps. West Ham recently secured 19-year-old striker Daniel Cummings from Celtic, while Villa picked up teen forward Zepiqueno Redmond after his Feyenoord release.

The move for Bisseck, however, marks a serious test of intent. With Villa acting fast and boldly, and West Ham sticking to a more measured budget-first model, this transfer tug-of-war might not just decide where Bisseck ends up, but also hint at how the two clubs are planning to approach what could be a decisive summer.