Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to see new arrivals before the end of the transfer window.placeholder image
Nuno Espirito Santo looks set to see new arrivals before the end of the transfer window. | AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea and Newcastle United transfer updates could provide a gift to a desperately in need West Ham.
West Ham have the opportunity to conduct a flurry of last minute transfer business this month in what could be a make-or-break period for the club in their fight for Premier League survival.
The Hammers looked set to have a busy winter window with Nuno Espirito Santo to be backed by the club in what is his first market since arriving the club. The opening days saw a follow through on that promise with Taty Castellanos and Pablo arriving at the London Stadium.
Since then, despite the rumour mill churning out links, it’s been crickets from West Ham. An upturn in form on the pitch with wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland have been a boost but do not paper over the cracks.
West Ham still in the market for defensive reinforcements
There’s no doubt that West Ham need a new centre-back with the trio of Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos coming under criticism long before Nuno’s arrival. Ideally, a fresh face in between the sticks would be sorted too with Nuno supposedly not convinced by the options of Alphonse Areola, Mads Hermansen or Lukasz Fabianski.
Toulouse star Charlie Cresswell had emerged as an early top target but the Ligue 1 outfit’s valuation proved too much for the London club. Meanwhile, there had been links with Monaco man and ex Spurs star Eric Dier, but those lost pace.
It’s proving a difficult position to recruit in and now, with just six days left of the window, West Ham appear to have been handed a double transfer boost. Both Chelsea defender Axel Disasi and Newcastle United veteran Jamaal Lascelles are reported to have been given the green light to leave their clubs.
Chelsea and Newcastle United transfer decisions open paths for Hammers
There are reasons to be cautious about either addition given their lack of minutes this season but West Ham are not in a place where they can be too picky. Adding another option at centre-back is an absolute must and those are two decent options- Disasi is a Conference League winner and World Cup runner up, while Lascelles offers 177 matches of Premier League experience.
L’Equipe claims that even though Disasi has returned to training form the ‘bomb squad’ under Liam Rosenior, a loan exit is on the cards before the end of the month. Meanwhile, The Chronicle believes that Lascelles is being prepared to leave St James’ Park.
The 32-year-old is neither injured nor available for selection in a mysterious situation at St James’ Park, which the outlet believes could be an effort to keep him fit to ship off to a new destination.
Speaking recently, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe said: "He's not training with us currently. He hasn't felt well enough physically to train . . . good enough. I don't necessarily think that he's injured in the sense that he's got one big injury, I just think his body's not feeling great.
"So he's not training with us currently. We hope that will change in the next few weeks. But yeah, there's a possibility that he could leave as well. Jamaal's been an incredible servant. He's a great leader for us behind the scenes. So, let's wait and see what happens on his future."
Who West Ham prefer between Disasi and Lascelles, and whether a January swoop is made, remains to be seen. Both have their drawbacks but, after a month of stalled links with defenders, there now seems to be two viable paths open to the club.
In other news, 'Unstoppable' ex Barcelona forward spotted at West Ham training ground ahead of January transfer.
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