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VfB Stuttgart are eyeing a move for Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards should they sell Konstantino Mavropanos to West Ham as expected.

That’s according to Kicker, who say Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß is targeting the 23-year-old as he prefers players that he knows.

The newspaper reports that Stuttgart are currently working their way through their list of candidates to replace several first team stars in the final weeks of the window.

Mavropanos appears to be on his way to West Ham, a transfer that will leave a hole in the centre of defence that will need to be filled.

Crystal Palace defender Richards is currently at the top of their list of options as he played under Sebastian Hoeneß during his time in Bayern Munich’s various youth levels and Bayern II as well as Hoffenheim, where Richards played on loan.

According to Kicker, the American ‘obviously has no future’ at Crystal Palace despite being signed to a contract that runs until 2027.

He only made nine appearances for the Eagles last season, and they are now ‘ready to loan out’ the player despite him only arriving in a €12m deal last summer.

That suits Stuttgart and it seems once Mavropanos is sold they will make their move to reunite Richards with Sebastian Hoeneß once again.