In-the-know podcast pundit @ExWHUemployee has provided an update regarding West Ham United’s transfer link with Shane Duffy.
According to a recent report from The Guardian, the Hammers are ‘hopeful’ of signing the Brighton & Hove Albion defender this summer.
However, there is also interest from Premier League sides Burnley and West Bromwich Albion, as well as Scottish Premiership outfit Celtic.
So, in the latest episode of The West Ham Way Podcast, @ExWHUemployee offered an update on the Irons’ interest in signing the central defender.
He said: “Shane Duffy’s an interesting one. I messaged someone I know who knows the situation with him very closely.
“I’ve tweeted about it, I said it on last week’s show that we want [Phil] Jones, [John] Stones and Duffy [as] our options at centre-back, as well as a few other lesser-priority options.
“Duffy has had talks, he had talks with [Karren] Brady last Friday, definitely, and I believe club officials contacted him [on Wednesday] again to re-continue these talks.
“Now, I messaged two of my sources that would be close to this deal and neither of them replied – which is very, very rare. Often, that means that they’re doing something right now to not reply.
“So, I can’t confirm, but I’d imagine that some talks have happened [on Wednesday] as well. So, maybe there’ll be more to come on that.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what @ExWHUemployee had to say, seemingly something may be going on behind the scenes in regards to talks over signing Duffy.
Do you think Shane Duffy would be a good signing for West Ham?
No, he's not good enough
Yes, he's a good player
Judging from the fact that the centre-back was Brighton’s joint fifth-best performer in the league during the 2019/20 season despite only making 12 starts in 19 appearances for the club (per WhoScored), it seems that the 28-year-old defender is still a capable player.
Furthermore, the 6.71/10 average rating that he picked up in the league betters the 6.62/10 average rating that Issa Diop delivered in the most recent season.
So, it would appear that Duffy would be a fairly solid signing for the Irons if he was brought to the London Stadium.