Surprise centre back choice emerges

Swansea’s Alfie Mawson is the surprise choice of supporters in a Claret and Hugh poll asking for their preferred choice of  a new centre-back from a list of names already linked with West Ham.

The 24-year-old defender polled nearly 38% of the votes from over 1,550 voting in Tuesday’s C&H poll. A recent article in the Times suggested the relegated Welsh club value him at £40m while transfer market put his value at a more modest £10m so pick a number between those two valuations.

Barcelona’s Marlon Santos came a close second place with nearly 33% of the vote despite being more unknown with no Premier League experience. The 22-year-old who spent last season at Nice is keen as more as a gamble by many fans.

West Brom’s Jonny Evans was the only other centre back to receive a double-figure percentage of the vote with 13%.

The others were Craig Dawson 6% Genoa’s Armando Izzo 4%, Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross 3% and Leeds Pontus Jansson 2%

Full results: 1,557 Votes

Johnny Evans 207 13.29%
Pontus Jansson 35 2.25%
Ryan Shawcross 58 3.73%
Armando Izzo 64 4.11%
Marlon Santos 510 32.76%
Alfie Mawson 588 37.76%
Craig Dawson 95 6.1%