Tah Tah Jonathan Hello Joe

The move to sign centre back Jonathan Tah from Bayer Leverkusen hasn’t come off, it is the latest in a long line of unsuccessful attempts to bring in reinforcements ahead of the transfer window closing this evening. David Moyes does still have other options available, therefore it is extremely unlikely that he will attempt to bring Watford’s Craig Dawson to the club, bringing Swansea’s Joe Rodon to the London Stadium is an option that the manager prefers.

Signing Dawson would send out all the wrong type of message, he is a decent centre back at Championship level, but far removed from everything David Moyes wants to achieve at West Ham with his 'young and hungry' template. Rodon, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish, the 22 year old made 21 Championship appearances for Swansea last season. In those games, he averaged one tackle, 1.6 interceptions and 5.4 clearances. The four-capped Wales international also won an average of 3.5 aerial duals per match.

Rodon is the real deal and would represent a major upgrade to the West Ham United squad, with the transfer window between Premier League and Championship clubs not closing until October 16th, there is still plenty of time remaining to do a deal. Swansea, quite rightly do not want to lose one of their star players, but money talks, especially during the fiscal meltdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rodon won't come cheap, quality never does, however if Swansea are determined to hang on to their man and play hard ball, Moyes might just feel that he doesn't want to get involved in another 'Jamers Tarkowski' situation. It will not have escaped the Hammers' manager's radar that since being reintroduced to the team, Fabian Bulbuena has been in imperious form playing along side Angelo Ogbonna.

With Issa Diop available soon having had to self-isolate, and promising youngster Ajibola Alese desperate to step up to the plate, maybe the need for an additional centre back is not as intense as it once seemed, having already strengthened the right back situation, a back up left back and possibly an additional midfielder might be all the club needs to progress.

When clubs know that there is a real need for a player, they will exploit the potential purchasers budget to the nth degree because they know they can, it may not be a popular idea, but perhaps Moyes is better off keeping his powder dry rather than bringing in 'dead weight', just because there is a transfer kitty, albeit a tiny one, it doesn't mean you have to spend it no matter what. If deals go well, then fine, but if the 'hoops' that have to be jumped through prove too difficult, then wait and live to fight another day. - Ed