The suggestion that West Ham might be tracking a thirty four year old free agent as a centre back addition to the squad this summer were predictably negative.
James Tavernier may have had a pretty decent career at Rangers but having been released from the Scottish Premiership side it seems fans down south think he has little to offer West Ham, even in their reduced circumstances in the Championship.
Far more welcome will be the suggestion that centre back Harry Souttar is indeed being considered by the Hammers hierarchy.
Souttar performed admirably in Australia’s four World Cup games last month
The giant 6’6″ centre back could combine with Dinos Mavropanos to make a pretty powerful pairing, by all accounts: The Australian impressed during his four World Cup outings but has come off a dreadful two seasons with virtually no game time last year thanks to injury.
Whilst his fitness issues have been well covered, it seems according to West Ham Zone that he might be offered a loan deal with an option to purchase at the end of next season seems to illustrate that the Irons have done their homework and would want Souttar to prove himself capable of a gruelling 46 game – plus – season before forking out the required £10 million to make his transfer from Leicester permanent.
Finally, lessons seem to be getting learned in the Hammers’ recruitment department. Not before time.