CONFIRMED: West Ham, Spurs and Crystal Palace battle for €30m Belgium star

Premier League clubs West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace are among the teams seeking to pin down a deal for Belgium international centre-back Koni De Winter, FootballTransfers can reveal.

De Winter has emerged as an important transfer target for numerous teams around Europe this season, with competition also emerging from Inter Milan and Napoli, the two sides fighting for the Serie A title.

The 22-year-old centre-back has played virtually every minute he has been available for Genoa this season, helping his club secure a mid-table finish.

Now De Winter, who started his career at Juventus, has caught the eye of clubs higher up the pecking order in Italy but also in the Premier League, FootballTransfers has been told by sources close to the deal.

After making a move from Juve to Genoa last summer for €8m, his current club are hoping to turn a quick profit by selling him for a price in the region of €25-30m.

What are Koni De Winter’s strengths?

De Winter’s key strengths are his positioning and his ability to control opponents on the counterattack, according to data analytics firm SciSports, ranking among Serie A’s best centre-backs in both these metrics.

He ranks well above average for his qualities in the air, winning a huge number of aerial balls, while his disruption of box penetrations is also strong.

Koni De Winter vs Serie A centre-backs: Counter control (2024/25)

Koni De Winter statistical profile

It is also worthwhile to point out that he carries some goal threat, having scored three times in 23 appearances this season in Italy’s top-flight.

Physically, he is also rated well above average both in terms of his pace and his stamina.

In terms of his style of play, he can be compared to Liverpool legend Virgil van Dijk, Arsenal’s Gabriel or Palace’s very own Marc Guehi, who SciSports believe he can match the ability of.

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