West Ham fans are not overly impressed with a suggestion that they are being linked with a move for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, according to club insider Claret and Hugh.
Sean Whetstone of Claret and Hugh, first revealed via Twitter that with a deal for Toulouse defender Issa Diop potentially on the rocks and nothing set in stone for Swansea defender Alfie Mawson, the Hammers are eyeing the Red Devils enforcer who Manuel Pellegrini is a big fan of according to Claret and Hugh.
Manchester United’s Centre Back Chris Smalling @ChrisSmalling is a credible Hammers transfer target liked by Manuel Pellegrini and could end up a West Ham Centre back summer signing depending what happens with Alfie Mawson @AlfieMawson and Issa Diop. Time will tell. pic.twitter.com/34hn2UBaPt
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) June 17, 2018
Many fans were unhappy with the fact that instead of going for the much more youthful Diop and Mawson, the club were targeting a player in his late 20s – 28 to be precise.
The 6ft 3in enforcer (source: Transfermarkt) was an integral member of Jose Mourinho’s side last season making 29 appearances in the Premier League and a part of a defence that had the second-best record in terms of goals conceded in the top-flight with just 28 registered against them.
Nonetheless, that doesn’t seem to have made the giant defender any more popular amongst the West Ham faithful who would much rather see the Toulouse and Swansea players arrive at the club than the United ace.
Here is a selection of reactions on Twitter from supporters of the club in response to the insider’s transfer insight:
Smalling is not good enough. We need good CB’s not bang average
— steve golding (@Golding17S) June 17, 2018
Twice the player of Smalling & Mawson but I’ll believe when I see it if he’s in London tomorrow for a medical!! ?
— #SBOUT Tony Cox (@doc9739rgj) June 17, 2018
Good player, completely the wrong move for us though!
Older, Bigger wages, More injuries, it’d be peak West Ham to sign Smalling over a promising young & exciting player!
They’ll probably cost around the same & Smalling has less sell on value…
Diop would be my top CB target— Serial Steve (@SerialSteve) June 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/awallace1964/status/1008611417593802752
https://twitter.com/DJYems/status/1008610633288421376
??? never disappoints
— J (@veryupsetfan) June 18, 2018
?It’s so boring already. I’ll wait for a good cup of tea, to find out what’s going on.
— Pedro E Son (@pjeason2) June 18, 2018
Mawson and diop would be unreal
— David Lambourne ? ?? ? (@Lambo1966) June 17, 2018