West Ham defender Maximilian Kilman has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace

West Ham defender Maximilian Kilman has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, according to Football Insider

The 28-year-old, who moved to East London for £40 million in 2024, has so far failed to live up to his price tag and could head south of the capital should Palace skipper Marc Guéhi depart Selhurst Park in January.

Guéhi seemed set to join Liverpool on Deadline Day this summer – the move ultimately fell through, but it feels like only a matter of time before the England international leaves the Eagles. Palace are reportedly looking at West Ham’s Kilman as a potential replacement.
Kilman was Julen Lopetegui’s marquee signing from Wolves when he took over as Hammers boss last year. Although the Irons’ No. 3 initially impressed, his performances have declined at an alarming rate – especially since the Spaniard’s departure as head coach in January.
The Hammers centre-back has been woefully poor this season. However, he produced a very impressive display in the Irons’ recent 3-1 victory over Newcastle – in fact, it was Kilman’s strong defensive header that started the move for Tomáš Souček’s stoppage-time goal.
Unlike modern West Ham defensive greats Angelo Ogbonna and Craig Dawson, Kilman hasn’t yet had the chance to play in an in-form West Ham side. If new boss Nuno Espírito Santo can get this Hammers team firing, we may start to see the best of the former Wolves man.
Even so, if a suitable replacement were found, many West Ham fans might feel indifferent about Kilman’s departure – especially if it meant recouping some of the hefty fee the Irons paid for his services.
Kilman could be a solid signing for Palace should Guéhi leave in January. He has Premier League experience, is comfortable on the ball, and could thrive alongside a strong defender like Maxence Lacroix in Oliver Glasner’s impressive Eagles setup.
Following a strong showing on Sunday against the Magpies, it will be intriguing to see whether Kilman can maintain this form or if that game was merely an outlier. Regardless, the Hammers could probably do better than the 28-year-old at centre-back when the January window opens.