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West Ham Transfer Target Snatched Away as Defensive Problems Mount

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By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

Only hours after ExWHUEmployee announced that Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock was one of West Ham’s transfer targets, it has been revealed that the centre-back is heading elsewhere.

Newly-promoted Coventry City have reportedly reached an agreement to sign the 33-year-old for £6m.

Pinnock was heavily linked with a move to the London Stadium last season, but Nuno Espírito Santo eventually signed Axel Disasi on transfer deadline day instead.

And now, on the same day it was revealed the Hammers had serious interest in the defender, former West Ham midfielder and Coventry boss Frank Lampard appears to have got one over us.

Brentford centre-back Ethan Pinnock was identified as a West Ham transfer target before agreeing a move to Coventry City.

Pinock had emerged as a target for West Ham

West Ham’s defensive problems mounting

The timing isn’t particularly helpful.

Nuno’s defence has been all at sea during the start of our Championship campaign, conceding four goals in two games.

Max Kilman has looked shaky and last season’s Hammer of the Year Konstantinos Mavropanos has been even worse.

As I wrote following the 2-1 defeat against Charlton, Mavropanos endured another dreadful afternoon, while the statistics behind Kilman’s performance weren’t particularly encouraging either.

The situation has been made worse by Disasi’s decision not to return to West Ham, having been such an important part of Nuno’s defensive improvement last season.

It leaves the club desperately needing reinforcements heading into tomorrow’s EFL Cup tie against Southampton and a ‘must not lose’ Championship game against Watford this weekend.

With poor defenders and no specialist holding midfielder protecting them, Nils Koppen will have to pull a rabbit out of the transfer hat.

And sharpish.

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Kris Gonzo (commonly known to the West Ham community as Gonzo) is the co-founder of Hammers Chat (established 2014) and the lead video content creator and columnist for Claret and Hugh.

With over a decade of professional sports media experience, he is a frequent West Ham United analyst and contributor for Sky Sports News, BBC Football Focus, and BBC Radio 5 Live. He previously served as an official video and content creator for West Ham United FC during the club's tenure at Upton Park and featured in the official documentary commemorating the historic final game at the Boleyn Ground.

A lifelong Hammer since the legendary 10-0 victory over Bury, when he isn't providing daily match analysis on the Hammers Chat YouTube Channel or broadcasting on X (@GONZObignose), he can be found walking his dog and restoring classic pinball machines.

5 comments

  • Jeeps says:

    Coventry didn’t have one over whu_The early bird gets the worm.
    Back to the tortoise and hare no prizes for guessing which whu are.
    Both on and off the field.
    No point in making suggestions they’ve all been covered.
    Koppen and Chorley just taking money out of club under false pretentious joining the many others.

  • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

    We should be going for the rangers defender anyway, he has potential sell on value and is young.

    The other transfers we need are Staveley and Howe.

  • Rob says:

    Pinick is not the answer at 33 it’s money spent with no return. Tuesday night play the youngster from the u2’1s with Mav and see how it goes. I have thought for a while that Kilman is the problem and the second half of last season proved it.

  • Hammerdan says:

    Thats what you get for leaving it so late!!!

  • Graham watts says:

    The joys of being in the Championship. We are always second choice if a Premier League club come calling. Better get used to it!

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