This season has rarely been straightforward for West Ham United.
The Hammers have been forced to cope with the departures of two marquee players — Mohamed Kudus in the summer and Lucas Paquetá more recently — while a change in the dugout mid-campaign has only added to the instability.
Sitting 18th in the Premier League table, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side remain firmly in a relegation scrap.
If there has been one glaring weakness above all others, it has been at the back. West Ham have leaked goals at an alarming rate, and despite January business focused largely on attacking reinforcements, the defence has remained a major concern.
With deadline day ticking away, the club appear to have launched a late, ambitious attempt to finally address that problem.
West Ham Submit Late Bid for Natan
West Ham have made a dramatic eleventh-hour push to sign Real Betis centre-back Natan, according to reports from Spanish outlet ABC.es.
The Hammers are said to have submitted as many as three separate formal offers for the Brazilian defender, all structured differently but each valued at around £34.6 million.
Natan has earned a reputation in La Liga as a dominant presence — even being labelled a “beast” — and has also attracted interest from Real Madrid.
Despite West Ham’s persistence, Betis are believed to have knocked back every proposal. Internally, the Spanish club feel the defender’s value is only heading in one direction and see no urgency to cash in during this window.
Chelsea's Axel Disasi. (Reuters/Matthew Childs)
Chelsea’s Axel Disasi. (Reuters/Matthew Childs)
As a result, the Hammers may now be forced to abandon their pursuit and pivot fully towards alternative options. One such move is already progressing, with Axel Disasi set to undergo a medical ahead of a loan switch from Chelsea.
While the Betis door appears firmly shut for now, West Ham’s late move for Natan underlines just how desperate the need is to shore up a defence that could ultimately define their survival hopes this season.