The worrying injury sustained by Konstantinos Mavropanos at the weekend came at almost – but not quite – the worst possible time for the Hammers, with only three front line centre backs in their squad. It could have been worse had it landed ‘Mav’ in the sickbay on February 1st with the window closed.
As it is, West Ham are scrabbling around for a new recruit in the twenty days remaining.
Eric Dier seems to be the latest ‘name’ being suggested, but quite how West Ham plan to prise him from AS Monaco mid season isn’t clear.
Bournemouth’s Ethan Pinnock is another stalwart being linked with West Ham – a latter day Craig Dawson, perhaps? West Ham could certainly do with a late blossoming defender to bolster the backline: Make no bones about it, Kilman and just about anybody alongside him will concede goals.
Time to recall Kaelan Casey from exile in Swansea
But the Hammers have anther solution already under their own noses, with Lopetegui’s choice for last season’s fourth centre back Kaelan Casey, currently on loan at Championship side Swansea City.
Whatever the club decide as far as a January window acquisition, surely it makes sense to recall Casey – who has hardly been receiving game time – in case Mavropanos’ layoff is a lengthy one. It is certainly an option being considered, according to journalist Tom Coleman on twitter:
“Told West Ham have been mulling a possible recall for Kaelan Casey this month. PL side believed to be disappointed by player’s game time with Swansea, but final decision hasn’t yet been made”
Surely a no-brainer to add depth to the squad where urgently needed without a cost implication.
Monaco, Monte Carlo or Stratford? Well I suppose there IS a casino at Westfield!
Casey isn’t PL level he is League One standard at this point of his career, when he has played he looks nervy and makes mistakes. He might turn into a very good player but he needs regular time playing adult football to season him, putting him into a relegation fight will ruin him.
If we are to give one a chance Mayer’s has showed he is confident enough, or drop Magassa back until we can find the right replacements.
Personally, I’d stick Scarles in at CB, he’s got no pace for a fullback. The boy can tackle though, he has a decent eye for when to put his foot in, he tracks superbly but I dont think left fullback is where he should be. Walker Peters and Mayers can cover left.
Did Ethan Pinnock get a transfer from Brentford to Bournemouth without telling anyone Martin?
just my way of letting you all know that we don’t use AI, and this all comes out of my head at 10 at night…and sometmes just.. d’oh.
I noticed that a real warrior scored for Macclesfield against Palace. Head bandaged and gave everything to the cause. A proper old school pivot…. and his name is Dawson. Looks like destiny.
Or maybe he could look like Tomas Soucek!
Fans need to get over the Dier/Spurs association.
He will make us better and is more experienced than what we currently have.
It’s a potential signing that immediately improves the first 11. No brainer.
Exactly. We tried to sign Dier before he joined Spurs.
Far better than we have.
Golembeckis is promising but just a kid. Don’t think he really needs the scrutiny or pressure of a relegation battle.
“Lack of game time” at Swansea??? Hmmm…not sure that’s a convincing argument for being the answer for us.
Surely the no-brainer would be to play Soucek at centre-half.
My thoughts exactly.
There are another two CB options available for Nuno to use: one is Magassa who played as CB at his former club. And then there is Igor Julio, is he considered an option only in case of additional injured players?
I have been saying Soucek should play centre half , makes perfect sense.
Anything is better than Killman.
We do need a b******** captain like defender to rally the troops back there though
Isn’t Mayers CB by choice? Surely he’s the next best option?
“quite how West Ham plan to prise him from AS Monaco mid season isn’t clear.” It is to me. It’s called MONEY and bucket loads of it will be necessary for a desperate club like us to get Eric Dier. Monaco will smell blood, or rather dosh, and will make the most of it. And that’s even if Dier would entertain the idea of playing for us. I would imagine the weather is much nicer in Monaco at this time of year.