West Ham are set to try and prise Joe Worrall away from Nottingham Forest in the summer but may have to fight off other top-flight suitors.
Worrall has caught the eye of Hammers boss David Moyes and his staff, with the centre-back a key figure in Steve Cooper's bid for promotion to the Premier League, according to The Sun.
The 25-year-old has also tested his mettle against the best, impressing in Forest's FA Cup run that has seen them beat Premier League clubs Arsenal 1-0 and Leicester 4-1.
The Hammers are hoping to seal the deal if Forest don't manage to win promotion. Cooper's side currently sit ninth in an extremely tight Championship table, and are only two points away from the play-off positions.
They are also enjoying a seven-game unbeaten run in the league. But Forest may be forced to sell players if they miss out on the Premier League.
Moyes would likely have to part with around £15million for Worrall, The Sun reports, but may face stiff competition for him.
Brentford tried to sign Worrall at the start of the season and could come back for a second try, while Everton have also reportedly been monitoring the 6ft 4in defender.
Moyes is said to want to bolster his squad by adding two defenders over the summer.
