By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

5th Nov, 2019 | 4:00pm

Exclusive: West Ham plot move to sign £22m-valued Bundesliga star

West Ham United are chasing £22million-valued Eintracht Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger, Football Insider understands.

The Premier League club are long-term admirers of the powerful centre-back and have reignited their pursuit after being impressed by his stellar Bundesliga form.

A West Ham source has told Football Insider that Hinteregger, 27, is firmly on their radar ahead of the January window and they are keeping close tabs on him.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini is looking to strengthen his side’s defensive options after an alarming dip in form which has seen them lose three of their last Premier League games and concede eight goals in the process.

Hinteregger is regarded as one of the best left-sided centre-backs in the Bundesliga after catching the eye at Augsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.

He is valued at £22m by Frankfurt, who sold Sebastian Haller to the Hammers in a club-record deal over the summer worth a potential £45m.

Hinteregger enhanced his growing reputation with a towering display and goal in the 5-1 win over Bayern Munich last weekend.

Remarkably, the centre-back has chipped in with five goals for club and country already this season, four of which have club in 18 Frankfurt appearances.

He has played in all 12 of his club’s Bundesliga and Europa League matches this campaign, scoring four goals.

Hinteregger began his career in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg and he is a key member for the national side having won 44 caps for his country.

In other West Ham news, it can be exclusively REVEALED that the club are plotting a January player exchange with Midlands big hitters.