West Ham United insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that the club will now target a left-sided centre-back if they go into the January transfer market.
Only a few weeks ago, defender Angelo Ogbonna sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury which may keep him out for the foreseeable future.
He picked up the injury after starting in a win against Liverpool and thus missed the club’s next game. This match happened to be the 1-0 loss against Wolves.
In that defeat, Kurt Zouma slotted across to fill the vacant left-sided defensive position, but couldn’t help his side claim any points or keep a clean sheet.
While speaking on The West Ham Way podcast, ExWHUemployee has now stated that Zouma’s performance has made the club reconsider their winter plans.
He said: “What Moyes has said, and is the news coming out of the club, is that firstly, if they’re going to sign anyone, they have to be a left-sided centre-back.
“Because Zouma played there at the weekend and didn’t look as comfortable as he had done before.
“But the chances are they might try and blood either [Aji] Alese – I’ve said this before – or [Jamal] Baptiste. Baptiste, especially, is very highly rated at the club.”
TIF Thoughts on West Ham and their defenders…
In the win over Liverpool, Craig Dawson was asked to come off the bench to replace the injured Ogbonna. He was then trusted to start in the next match against Wolves (via Transfermarkt).
Should West Ham have signed Divock Origi this winter?
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After that loss, Moyes may be looking to rejig his central defensive pairing. He does, of course, have the option of Issa Diop to call upon. However, the 23-year-old has not played once in the Premier League up to this point in the season and has instead just featured in the cup competitions.
With this in mind, it will be interesting to see if the Hammers trust what they have, opt for a youth option, or dip into the transfer market. Only time will tell!
In other news: ‘This is a good player’ – West Ham urged to sign potential free agent