Report: Irons facing huge defender fight

West Ham are facing a huge fight to sign Joe Worrall from Nottingham Forest, according to a new report.

The Hammers have an interest in signing the centre-back from the Championship club ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Sun now reports that the Irons are set to table a bid to sign the defender if Forest are unable to gain promotion to the Premier League – they are currently ninth but are just two points off the play-offs.

Forest have also enjoyed an excellent FA Cup run, with the club beating Arsenal, Leicester, and Huddersfield, setting up a quarter-final clash with Liverpool.

There is rival interest, though, with Brentford and Everton both keeping tabs on Worrall ahead of potential summer moves, but those bids may depend on each team securing survival.

The 25-year-old would cost between £12m and £15m in the summer but any deal is likely to be dead in the water if Forest do come up to the top-flight.