West Ham are ramping up our pursuit of Max Kilman from Wolves this summer, with Carlton Cole providing his view on the defender.

Wolves centre-back Kilman, who has been the subject of significant interest from our Hammers in recent weeks, is regarded as someone who can captain the side under Julen Lopetegui this season.

Speaking to Gambling.com, former Irons striker Cole feels that Kilman has all the right attibutes to be a success at West Ham.

“Kilman is a player,” stated Cole. “I’ve seen him and thought ‘this guy is a player’.

“I think that’s the type of player that West Ham will go for. They aren’t going to be picky right now with no European football, and I think Kilman has got experience in the Premier League and he will be a good addition to the squad.

“There are inevitably going to be some departures as well, so we need to recruit in the right way – that means getting in the right players at the right price, so that will need to be the case with Kilman.”

The former Chelsea player aso gave his thoughts on Ben Johnson, after the Academy graduate departed east London for a new challenge at Ipswich Town, and it is one Cole was sad to see happen.

“Ben Johnson is from the youth team, a great Academy product but he probably feels that he’s not been valued fairly,” said Cole.

“If a player starts to feel like that, it’s a bit of a dead-end relationship.

“I think at the same time, when you look at what he’s achieved and the fact he can play in different positions – like in midfield as we found out last season – it just shows he is a very handy player. I think Ipswich have got themselves a great signing there.

“He’s a great player who can play on the right, can play in central midfield, and he can go forward as well. He is an England Under-21 international so he’s progressed really well and I just feel a bit hurt that he’s about to depart the club because he’s a great lad.”

Flynn Downes is another player who’s long term future is in doub, with Southampton known to be keen to secure his services this summer.

“Flynn is a massive West Ham fan first and foremost so it really depends what he wants to do,” added Cole.

“I feel once you’ve gone and done well on loan by playing week in week out and being the key man like Flynn has done at Southampton, then you deserve another chance to show what you can do.

“However, is he going to get the game time he deserves at West Ham by coming back? It really depends what conversation he has with Lopetegui and that is when he will ultimately make that decision.

“I’d personally love to have him back at West Ham. He’s shown that he can play at a good level and he’s built his experience playing regular football which has done him a world of good.

“If he wants to stay at the club we’ll all support him and we’ll try to get him as close to the first team as possible.”