Irons still chasing top Monaco defender

Monaco’s Tunisian defender Aymen Abdennour celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match AS Monaco (ASM) vs Zenit Saint-Petersburg, on December 9, 2014 at the Louis II stadium in Monaco. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)

West Ham are continuing to pursue their interest in Monaco central defender Aymen Abdennour.

The Irons have been on the Tunisian’s case for some time and were they to beat Liverpool to the £15 million target the club  would have staged a major coup.

Newcastle are also interested and although the Irons are ahead of the Geordie club we have had two proposals rejected.

Slaven Bilic has made it clear since his job interview that a world class central defender is a priority and the club’s negotiators have been holding discussions and making proposals for some time as a result.

It’s an indication of the board’s readiness to back their new manager as far as is humanly possible as he bids to reshape his squad.

And the player’s agent Abdelkader Jilani has explained on several occasions in the past that the Premier League is his client’s preferred option saying: “There are some proposals from England and Spain but only an enquiry from Italy.”