9 Comments

Hammers face tough task to get their man

MawsonWest Ham are unlikely to be able to prise defender Alfie Mawson out of  Swansea in January despite their best attempts.

Amid reports that a £25 million bid is on the way after an £18 million offer was rejected for the England under 21 international, the Hammers are being forced to accept that they are likely to have to wait until summer.

David Moyes is desperate to reinforce the defence and midfield but we were told by a top club insider this evening that although the club are admirers of the player: “It’s a seriously difficult time to buy the players you really want.”

Swansea – marooned at the bottom of the Premier League – are highly reluctant to let the player leave but the Hammers will keep pushing despite accepting the degree of difficulty involved.

David Moyes has made his intentions very clear when dropping Winston Reid for the match against Bournemouth and is known to be uncertain about Jose Fonte and Sam Byram’s futures.

 

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

9 comments on “Hammers face tough task to get their man

  1. Why are we going for a defender who is helping his team towards relegation, does anyone other than agents or websites rate this guy ? If he is helping Swansea towards relegation leave him there thats one less team we have to worry about finishing above they are self destructing rapidly enough on their own, if we have to buy a relegation threatened teams defender get Jonny Evans from WBA that will consign them to the relegation dump as he is helping solidify them, he is also a better defender than Mawson or try and get Virgil VanDyke from Southampton we should have signed him from Celtic when he was available.

    • Agree 32 I like Mawson actually a solid CB somehow has no cards in 20 apps better stats then Reid but so what.
      We have Rice what does that tell him & Ox if we spend £25m on a young CB who could be hot for half that in summer if they get relegated.
      Ginge has been superb last 2 games he started really we don’t need a CB at all we have shown we can defend we we have midfielder who can hold the ball & pass.
      We have 6 CBs w Burke & Fonte then Cresswell & Kouyate who’s best position is CB. We need a full back before another CB.
      But we need midfielders most of all w techinquie ball skills.
      And we can call back Ox but I would leave him there unless he would be in first team. Rice has been incredible & should of been DM other day but still Moyes doesn’t start him ffs what does he have to do!?

      But big No to this can wait till summer this is when a DOF would be so nice. The board might have to step in w Henry & say really another CB right now that could be half price in Jan when we have Rice & Ox for free?
      I’m worried Moyes only want Aging PL experienced players or British players which is expensive & anyone can see midfield is our major problem.

      I feel for Ginge he has been loyal makes £30k nothing compardd to Reid & others great CB leader & been better then Reid he can’t get a year de tho said he wants one & wants to retire here & Reid gets 5 years.
      Be livid if they sell him in Jan. Plenty of clubs be happy to have him but wants to retire here give him that. He deserves a testimonial & a year then a coaching job.
      His intelligence got our first goal yesterday bc he played on the post which no one ever does.
      Should be offered a deal as Coach/player for 2 years . if we get this kid worried Ginge could make way bc Fonte is injured. I would hate that.

      £25m on 1 player we don’t even need ffs. DOF needed. Wait till summer sell Fonte & another then get him for less.

      End of rant

  2. Not the answer to our problems. Decent player, not more.

    As to Reid, I remember the massive debate a couple of years ago about the should he leave/should he stay situation. At that time i wrote something like “is he THAT good?”. Reid is a decent centre back, who sometimes has a great match. This has been confirmed since he signed a long term contract. Blows hot and cold, but not a rock and not captain on the pitch. I saw him on TV when they were in the tunnel about to come out the day he was wearing the armband and he was VERY quiet. Not encouraging the rest of the squad, not saluting the opponents, not communicating with anyone.

    There are a lot of decent centre backs in Europe. Look elsewhere than Mawson please. I suppose Van Dijk would be too much asking ? If so, look in Italy, or in Spain. Or even in France.

    • Yeah just seen that VanDijk has joined Liverpool for £75m deal to be signed officially on Jan1st possibly Bertrand on his way also

      • £75m and hasn’t even had a good season amazing . what we could do with that money if we bought outside of PL.
        Really needs to be a cap I love football but this money could buy countries & makes massive changes in the world.
        Will only get higher tho

    • +1 you are right on Reid. Some think he is world class but he isn’t decent CB but Ginge is far more intelligent CB then him not as mobile now but as been better lately. Something about captains band seems to effect his game too….
      But agree on Europe I don’t think we need a CB right now have so many wait till Jan & don’t want Ginge to make way.
      But we should be looking outside PL for midfielders which is what we need most. We have shown we can defend we we have mids that can hold the ball & pass. And inseatd of going for high priced aging one on Benches in the PL. Get young hungry midfielders from Serie A I like the link w Cristante & Pires.
      Really wish we go after Mohamad Elynoussoui 24 assists in 64 apps. 11 assists & 6 goals in 24 apps we need creativity like that w Lanzini & when he is out.
      So many good players out there for much less then £25-£30m.
      Imagine if we would of added Gross over summer for £3m him & Lanzini.
      Need a creative mid & Defensive Mid
      And maybe a CF seems they want to sell all the ones we have now

  3. I like Mawson but not at £25m. Doesn’t matter what Dick Van Dyke is going for, we cant spend this money on him when we need a defensive midfielder far more. I’d rather see us blow £35m of Carvilho and ship out Ayew, Chek (away with the fairies this season) and Sakho (only because he hates being at West Ham) to make up the shortfall. Then I’d target full backs cos that’s where 90% of our goals conceded come from – the flanks not the centre. Zabba is passed it and Cressie just not good enough. Stop the wing attacks and the CB’s will look far better.
    A solid back four will low us to play 4-4-2 so we can better accommodate Chic and Arnie plus we won’t be so overrun in midfield. A back five isn’t the answer when so many play one up top and attack from midfield. Time to be different!

  4. Apparently Southampton want Mawson to replace Dick, and they can easily out-bid us, so that may well nail this one anyway!

    • Good then we should go after one of the players they have been keen on & now Palace are too (Newcastle as well)
      Mohamed Elynoussoui 23yo 11 assists 6 goals in 24 apps. We need extra creativity him & Lanzini & Arnie would be great.
      24 assists in 64 apps has pace £10-£12m gets him from Basel

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