Report suggests Napoli will risk losing West Ham target Nikola Maksimovic on a free this summer

By Mathew Nash

West Ham United target Nikola Maksimovic will not be permitted to leave Napoli this month, despite his contract expiring in the summer. 

That is according to a report from Il Mattino this week, as relayed by IamNaples. They suggest that Napoli are willing to risk losing Maksimovic on a free as they believe they are capable of convincing him into signing a new deal before the end of the season. 

West Ham have been linked with a move for the Serbian in recent months. 

As reported by talkSPORT in September, the Hammers made a £14 million bid for the player after failing to secure James Tarkowski from Burnley. 

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 11: (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

The deal never got done and West Ham ended up signing Craig Dawson on loan from Watford instead. 

It was claimed by FCInterNews recently that Maksimovic has £45,000-a-week wage demands which, considering his form this season, is a reasonable amount. 

But any hope of West Ham luring Maksimovic away in January seems dead with this latest update. 

Napoli are ready to play chicken with the 29-year-old defender and hope they do lose him for nothing in the summer. 

If they do, then perhaps West Ham might come calling.