Crystal Palace will reportedly attempt to sign 28-year-old English defender Max Kilman from West Ham United in the winter transfer window.

According to a report by Football Insider, Max Kilman is the subject of interest of Crystal Palace. The Eagles are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back in the winter transfer window amid uncertainties surrounding Marc Guehi’s long-term future. So, the 28-year-old West Ham United defender has emerged as a target for the South London club.

Max Kilman and his career so far

Max Kilman has been a rare bright spot since joining West Ham United from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2024. A native of London, the Englishman spent his formative years in his homeland, passing through the academies at CM Futsal Academy, Fulham FC, Gillingham FC, and Welling United before graduating from the youth division at Maidenhead United.

However, the 28-year-old rose in prominence during his spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers, having spent half a dozen years with the Black Country outfit. Kilman also represented the Premier League outfit as the club captain before departing for West Ham United last year.

While the Hammers have struggled in the last 15 months, the English defender has been a standout performer at the heart of the defence. Kilman has made nearly 50 appearances thus far for West Ham while chipping in with two assists. Meanwhile, the player’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs, including Crystal Palace.

Move across London on the horizon?

Crystal Palace’s interest in Max Kilman is understandable. The Eagles are in a spot of bother over Marc Guehi’s long-term future, as the former Chelsea prospect has entered the final 12 months of his contract. The Crystal Palace captain will definitely leave the South London club in one of the next two transfer windows, with Liverpool confident of sealing a belated deal amid stiff competition from European bigwigs.

So, Crystal Palace must scour the market for a long-term replacement. Several candidates, including Ousmane Diomande, have thus emerged on the 2024/25 FA Cup winners’ radar, with Kilman also a viable target. Crystal Palace will attempt to sign the 28-year-old Englishman in the winter transfer window, having failed to land a replacement for Guehi this past summer.

Interestingly, Crystal Palace wanted to sign Igor Thiago to facilitate Guehi’s exit in the summer transfer window before he joined West Ham United from Brighton & Hove Albion on deadline day. It will be interesting to see if Kilman becomes his compatriot’s replacement at Selhurst Park.