West Ham United have shifted their January transfer focus to two seasoned Premier League centre-backs after suffering a significant setback in their pursuit of a primary target.
Hammers miss out on top target
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo, having already bolstered his attacking line with the signings of Taty Castellanos and Pablo, is now urgently seeking defensive reinforcements. The club's need is acute, as they currently hold the worst goals conceded record in the Premier League this season.
The Hammers had identified Toulouse's Charlie Cresswell as a key objective. The 23-year-old former Leeds United defender, an England under-21 regular, has been impressive in Ligue 1. However, negotiations stalled over the weekend when Toulouse's asking price was deemed too high for West Ham. Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg have since moved ahead with concrete talks for the player.
Experienced alternatives emerge
Swiftly moving to alternative plans, the London club have been linked with several veterans. One name reportedly offered is former Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier, now at AS Monaco.
On Thursday, two more concrete options surfaced. The first is Nottingham Forest's Willy Boly, 34, who played under Nuno during their successful spell together at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Boly boasts 126 Premier League appearances but has not featured for Forest this campaign, acting as an unused substitute before departing for the Africa Cup of Nations in December. Trusted source ExWHUEmployee claims Boly is being 'considered' despite his age.
Newcastle captain also in frame
The second option is Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles, 32. The defender has seen minimal action this term, making just two substitute appearances, and has been sidelined with a muscle injury since the end of November. This followed a lengthy recovery from an ACL problem that ended his previous season.
A move for Lascelles would carry an element of risk due to this recent injury record. For Newcastle, the January window represents a final opportunity to secure a fee for their long-serving captain, who joined the Magpies for £7 million back in 2014 and is out of contract this summer.
This defensive reshuffle comes as West Ham prepare for a crucial London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, with both sides contending with significant injury lists.
