After the mistakes of last summer, hopefully the Hammers are learning the lesson and not going to enter another Premier League season with just three centre backs: Lopetegui’s decision to send Nayef Aguerd out on loan without a replacement almost backfired spectacularly. Stand-in centre backs Vlad Coufal and [Aaron Cresswell](https://www.claretandhugh.info/aaron-cresswell-a-farewell-to-a-true-hammer/) performed admirably but both are leaving next month.
Much-reported links with Chelsea defenders Trevor Chalobah, Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo [(tbrfootball.com](https://tbrfootball.com/graham-potter-wants-to-reunite-with-chelsea-player-he-called-impressive-by-signing-him-for-west-ham/) and others) suggest Graham Potter seeks a reunion with former Blues’ centre backs. Would that they were available and priced at levels which the Hammers are likely to afford. None have been released by their club as yet: However the TBR report suggests “_The Blues are expected to make both players available in a bid to fund moves for their own centre-back targets”._
Chelsea have never done the Hammers any favours in the transfer market and it seems far more likely that they’ll be loaned out or sold overseas as was the case with Conor Gallagher. More likely are the stories linking the Hammers with Swiss Aurèle Amenda or CJ Egan Riley if he decides to quit Burnley.
Either way the Hammers will need to recruit to provide cover – Nayef Aguerd returns with a long-term knee injury that is likely to require more than just a few weeks off to fix. Konstantinos Mavropanos (main pic) is likely to find himself the player sold to fund the rebuild and allow for improvement. The Greek has been in and out of the starting eleven and of late has been more often on the bench after several clumsy performances.