West Ham will have to pay £4million if they want to sign Nigerian defender Apam Onyekachi from Nice.

The 23-year-old has been at Nice since 2006 and has developed into perhaps one of the best defenders in the French league. Onyekachi is about to have knee surgery and will therefore miss out on the chance to play in the World Cup with Nigeria, for whom he has 14 caps. He enjoyed an impressive African Cup of Nations back in January and won an Olympic silver medal in 2008.

Onyekachi is regarded as a strong and physical player, who is rarely beaten in one-on-one situations.

West Ham have reportedly already offered £3million for the defender but have now been told that they must up their bid. Hammers' chiefs David Gold and David Sullivan have indicated that there will be an overhaul of West Ham's playing squad this summer.

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