West Ham are preparing to table a bid for Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka to bolster their defensive options in the summer transfer window.
What’s the latest on Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham?
According to Football Insider, the Hammers have had a “long-term interest” in the 25-year-old and are ready to sign the player, provided that they avoid relegation.
The report has also suggested that the defender’s former club Crystal Palace is also interested in a potential deal.
This outlet previously revealed that the Red Devils are in the market for another right back and Bayer Leverkusen man Jeremie Frimpong is one of the options on their radar, which could seal Wan-Bissaka’s premature exit from Old Trafford.
Who could Wan-Bissaka replace at West Ham?
The Croydon-born destroyer amassed a spectacular reputation for his defensive acumen whilst at Palace, which earnt him his £50m transfer to the North-west of England.
Across four seasons for Man Utd, he has made 149 appearances in all competitions and registered 13 goal contributions.
Under former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he was a regular in the starting line up but since Erik ten Hag inherited the Old Trafford throne, the £90k-per-week man has found himself behind Diogo Dalot in the pecking order and has only started nine Premier League games.
Although, the £19m-rated ace has still been utilised by the Dutchman in cup competitions and appeared 23 times this campaign. When called upon, the 6-foot titan has still performed admirably and recorded the fifth-highest rating (6.94) of any player in the United squad.
The Hammers are enduring a torrid season that has landed them in a tense and unforgiving relegation scrap. The right-back area could definitely be upgraded and that could be achieved by replacing underperforming Vladimir Coufal with this tough-tackling Englishman.
Wan Bissaka’s quality is showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 11% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers, per 90 minutes, for interceptions, as well as the top 15% for clearances and the top 18% for pass completion. Meanwhile, the Czech only resides in the top 12%, 25%, and 63% for the same metrics to underline the gulf in consistency and quality between the two.
The tackle-hungry defender has previously been labelled by teammate Marcus Rashford as “massively important”, whilst Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher once dubbed him the “best one-on-one defender for a full-back in the world.”
Leaving the Reds for Claret and Blue could be the revival that Wan Bissaka needs to recover the top-tier form he showed while at Palace and during the early stages of his Man Utd career.