West Ham target Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could be available on loan during the January transfer window, according to reports.
GiveMeSport claim that Chelsea would be “more interested” in letting the midfielder leave on a temporary basis so he can get more game time.
Dewsbury-Hall only made the switch to Stamford Bridge from Leicester City for £30m in the summer, but he has found minutes hard to come by.
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He hasn’t started a Premier League match, with Blues boss Enzo Maresca choosing to use him almost exclusively in the Conference League.
With no European football until March, though, Dewsbury-Hall may only get run-outs in the FA Cup over the coming weeks and months.
Maresca won’t stand in the player’s way if he wants to leave
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s game against Everton, Maresca made it clear that Dewsbury-Hall could be let go but everything depends on the player:
“With Kiernan, it’s a question for him. If a player says he is not happy and wants to play more, we are not going to say you have to stay. We are happy with Kiernan, and then in January we will see.”
West Ham will have rivals for Dewsbury-Hall’s signature
GiveMeSport report that Brighton and the midfielder’s former club Leicester are likely to provide competition for the Hammers if he does decide to move in January.
Brighton were favourites to snap up Dewsbury-Hall before Chelsea hijacked the move, and Leicester would be happy to bring him back to the King Power Stadium on loan.
For West Ham, a lot will depend on their priorities. They have also been linked with former Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz in recent days so it does appear as if head coach Julen Lopetegui wants to strengthen his options in the middle of the park. However, recruiting a new no.9 is expected to take precedence.
Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here