West Ham closing in on £17m deal for dream Kostic alternative, he's "a real weapon" - opinion

West Ham United are closing in on a deal to bring Borna Sosa to the London Stadium this summer.

That’s according to a report by Croatian media outlet Index, who claim that, with the 24-year-old full-back’s representatives having been in England since Monday in order to discuss a switch to David Moyes’ side, the VfB Stuttgart defender is now believed to be very close to sealing a move to east London.

The report goes on to state that the Croatia international’s current side have already begun their search for a replacement for the left-back, with Sosa expected to depart the Mercedes-Benz Arena in a deal worth around €20m (£17m) in the coming days.

However, the report does go on to suggest that Newcastle United are also interested in a move for the former Dinamo Zagreb starlet, with it being said that Eddie Howe’s side would have no trouble in outbidding the Hammers in the race for the wing-back due to the club’s mega-rich Saudi Arabian owners.

While Filip Kostic’s increasingly likely move to Juventus is sure to come as a gutting blow to Moyes – with it being evident that the Serbia international was the 59-year-old’s primary target for a new left-back this summer – should the Scot manage to get a £17m deal over the line for Sosa in the Eintracht Frankfurt star’s place, it would certainly help to ease this blow.

Indeed, the Stuttgart sensation appears to very much be a player in the same attack-minded mould as Kostic – something that was evident over the duo’s performances in the German top flight last season.

Over Sosa’s 28 Bundesliga appearances last time out, the £20.7m-rated talent was a constant creative threat for VfB, scoring one goal, providing eight assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, in