OPINION
West Ham would help plug the leak at the back by luring Bristol City captain Aden Flint to the London Stadium in the final three days of the transfer window.
The Daily Mail claim Bristol City’s domestic rivals Norwich are interested in signing the 28-year-old defender, who has been the subject of intense interest this summer most notably from Birmingham City.
It is said that the Robins rejected an offer of £5million for Flint and left-back Joe Bryan combined from Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham, but his future remains in doubt at Ashton Gate this summer.
Football site ESPN claimed that West Ham could lose Euro 2016 winner Jose Fonte to Crystal Palace, seven years after he left the Eagles to join Southampton in 2010.
Without Fonte, the Hammers would have just James Collins, Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna as options at centre-back, with the latter two suffering multiple injuries last season.
Four centre-backs are needed in east London and Flint’s Championship form is more than enough to suggest he is worthy of a crack in the Premier League.
The 6ft 5in colossus has the reputation of somewhat of a goalscoring defender, finding the back of the net 11 times in 91 Championship outings throughout his career.
Wearing the armband last season for City, Flint played in every single one of his side’s 46 league games last season as he helped them achieve Championship safety with five goals, two assists and nine clean sheets.
The Hammers desperately need to stop the gap at the back before the end of the transfer window, conceding 10 Premier League goals in three games against Manchester United, Southampton and Newcastle.
Three straight losses has even seen manager Bilic’s future come under scrutiny as the Hammers fail to put their dismal 2016-17 form behind them despite handful of strong summer signings.
Adding Flint into the equation, who is more than adept at defending under pressure with City likely to be nearer the bottom of the table once again, would more than certainly tighten up the back line under Bilic.
As well as offering a goalscoring threat, Flint would also offer leadership to a side that are devoid of any kind of team spirit. If the club can do a deal for less than £10million, they should sign on the dotted line.