West Ham United Pursue Serie A Defender Isaak Hien in Late January Transfer Bid
West Ham United have intensified their efforts to secure defensive reinforcements as the January transfer window approaches its conclusion, with the club now reportedly chasing a deal for experienced Serie A defender Isaak Hien.
Hammers' Busy Transfer Window Continues
The London club have been particularly active in the recruitment market this month, determined to provide manager Nuno Espirito Santo with the resources needed to navigate their challenging Premier League position. West Ham have already welcomed new signings Pablo Felipe, Taty Castellanos, and Keiber Lamadrid to the squad, but their business appears far from complete.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, West Ham have made an approach to Atalanta for Swedish international Isaak Hien. The proposed deal would involve an initial loan arrangement with an obligation to make the transfer permanent should West Ham successfully avoid relegation this season.
Hien's Profile and Potential Impact
Isaak Hien, a 27-year-old defender who has earned 26 caps for Sweden, joined Atalanta in 2024 and has since made 65 league appearances for the Italian club. This season alone, he has featured in 20 Serie A matches, establishing himself as a regular in Atalanta's defensive setup.
Primarily operating as a centre-back, Hien also possesses the versatility to play at full-back when required. His potential arrival at the London Stadium could address Santo's desire to increase competition within the defensive unit, where Max Kilman has struggled to displace first-choice pairing Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Relegation Battle Context
West Ham's pursuit of defensive reinforcements comes at a crucial juncture in their season. Despite securing back-to-back victories against Tottenham and Sunderland, their relegation rivals Nottingham Forest have collected four points from their last two matches, reducing the gap between the clubs from seven to just five points.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged the significance of recent results following Saturday's victory over Sunderland, stating: "It was a good performance. The momentum, the energy that the boys put in, the connections, the combinations. We scored, we had good spells of football and were dominant in terms of defence."
Regarding the ongoing relegation battle, Santo added: "We are in a tough place. We have a lot of work to do, but this is what we need to do from minute one. We cannot afford to lose one moment in our game."
Potential Squad Implications
Should West Ham successfully secure Hien's services, questions will inevitably arise about the future of current squad members. Igor Julio, who joined the club on loan from Brighton late in the summer window, could potentially seek a move elsewhere, particularly with Crystal Palace having previously expressed interest in the defender before they sold Marc Guehi earlier this month.
The potential acquisition of Hien represents West Ham's ongoing commitment to strengthening their squad during this critical period, as they seek to build momentum and secure their Premier League status for another season.
