West Ham are keen on recruiting Tosin Adarabioyo from Chelsea in January, according to Foot Mercato.
The French website claims that the Hammers “want to sign” the 27-year-old on loan in order to strengthen their options in the centre of defence.
Adarabioyo only moved to Stamford Bridge in July, having joined from London rivals Fulham on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Craven Cottage.
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The Blues beat off competition from Newcastle to secure the player’s signature but he has not been a regular starter since making the switch.
Adarabioyo has started just 3 league games
Head coach Enzo Maresca has been reluctant to play the centre-half in domestic fixtures. He has played the full 90 minutes in only two league fixtures.
Adarabioyo also started at Anfield versus Liverpool but he was substituted near the start of the second half. That was his last league appearance until he started against Southampton midweek.
The rest of his game time has come in the Conference League and the Carabao Cup.
West Ham need more bodies at the back
The Irons allowed Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd (on loan) to leave during the summer transfer window, with just two replacements (Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo) being brought in.
With Konstantinos Mavrapanos the only other senior centre-back in the first-team squad, head coachJulen Lopetegui has been left with very few options in the middle of defence.
Technical director Tim Steidten seems to be keen on putting that right in January and it appears that bringing in Adarabioyo on loan is one of the solutions being considered. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea are willing to let him go or whether the Hammers will have to look elsewhere.
Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here