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West Ham transfer news: Hammers move to sign Marko Arnautovic's Austrian team-mate
WEST HAM have made a move to sign Stefan Lainer from RB Salzburg when the transfer window opens next month.
The Hammers are keen to bolster their defence and want to get a jump on Italian outfit Napoli, who are also interested in signing the 26-year-old.
Lainer has been a key player for Salzburg, helping them reach the Europa League semi-finals last season.
He has been capped 10 times by his country Austria, where he counts Marko Arnautovic as his international team-mate.
West Ham signed Ryan Fredericks over the summer but he is sidelined with a shin injury.
Who is West Ham target Stefan Lainer?
- Lainer was born on 27 August 1992, making him 26, in Seekirchen am Wallersee in Austria. He is a right-back
- Stefan is the son of of Leo Lainer, who played for the Austrian national team
- Stefan Lainer's first club was SV Seekirchen before he made the move to Red Bull Salzburg as a 14-year-old.
- He spent time in the youth teams there before making his second team-debut in 2010, aged 18, for the FC Liefering side
- Lainer went out on loan to SV Grodig for the 2011-12 season
- In 2012, he returned to Salzburg where he was in the squad of FC Liefering, the second team of Red Bull Salzburg
- He made his Red Bull Salzburg debut in 2015 and helped them reach the Europa League semi-finals last season. They were knocked out by Marseille
- Lainer has been capped 10 times by Austria after making his debut in 2017
- West Ham are monitoring his progress