West Ham have made an enquiry for Nicola Zalewski.placeholder image
West Ham have made an enquiry for Nicola Zalewski. | Getty Images
Nuno Espirito Santo could still be gifted a new defender and midfielder to work with at West Ham this month.
West Ham are ‘close’ to finally bolstering the defensive options available to Nuno Espirito Santo this month with the arrival of a new Premier League defender.
The Hammers moved quickly to reinforce their attack once the window opened with Taty Castellanos and Pablo coming through the doors of the London Stadium for a combined £50 million. However, a new centre-back has remained a priority.
Even after recent wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland, West Ham still have the worst defensive record in the league with a staggering 45 goals shipped this season. Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos have all made errors and come under scrutiny.
West Ham ‘close’ to Chelsea loan signing
West Ham had been linked with a transfer move for Toulouse man Charlie Cresswell, Newcastle United stalwart Jamaal Lascelles and former Tottenham Hotspur man Eric Dier but appear to have settled on a different option.
The Mail reports that the club are in talks with Chelsea over a loan move for Axel Disasi. The outlet claims that the deal is ‘close’ to being finalised ahead of Deadline Day on Monday.
Disasi is one of the players who had been booted into the ‘bomb squad’ by a ruthless Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge. The 27-year-old has not made an appearance for the senior side this season after spending the back end of the previous campaign at Aston Villa.
The centre-back joined Chelsea from Monaco on a £39 million deal in 2023 and has gone on to make 61 appearances for the club. At one stage, Disasi was even compared to club legend John Terry by Jamie Carragher.
After a performance against Manchester City early last season, Carragher said: "I can't remember a better defensive performance this season from a central defender. You're coming away to Manchester City and playing against the best striker in the world. He was brilliant, man of the match, definitely the best player on the pitch.
"That was the type of performance you'd see from defenders 15 or 20 years ago, it was a throwback with backs against the wall and throwing himself against everything. Talking about Chelsea, that was a John Terry type performance and I can't give any more praise than that."
West Ham enquire over Serie A midfielder
The Mail also report that West Ham have lodged an ‘enquiry’ for Atalanta midfield Nicola Zalewski ahead of the transfer window’s climax. The Hammers have seen Lucas Paqueta and James Ward-Prowse leave the club this week.
That leaves Nuno somewhat short of experience in the centre of the park with Freddie Potts, Soungoutou Magassa and Mateus Fernandes all younger options. Zalewski is a Poland international who would come with Champions League and Europa League experience.
The 24-year-old has been a regular in the Serie A this season and can either play in a central or left-sided midfield role. It remains to be seen whether West Ham are eying up a loan move or a permanent transfer, but the player is of a big importance to Atalanta and would not be easy to prize away.
In other news, West Ham now interested in ex-Premier League striker with 'big potential'.
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