Centre-Back To The Future

David Moyes’ relentless search for a centre-back has taken West Ham representatives to France in order to try and sign Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car from Marseille. The Irons have tabled a substantial bid of around €22m for the centre-back and are hopeful of successful talks to bring the defender to the London Stadium.

Before fans get too excited, the offer has been rejected and, according to French sports daily L’Equipe, Marseille want a fee of around €30m before agreeing to let the defender leave. Normally that would be that, however the French club, forever in the shadow of PSG are open to doing a deal and it has been claimed that they are already looking for replacements.
Moyes' preoccupation with strengthening the defence is obviously understandable given it's porous nature, unfortunately it is not just a centre back required. Despite having acquired right back Vladimir Coufal from Tomas Soucek's old club Slavia Prague, there is still a need for an additional full back, and while Moyes' pursuit of an additional centre back is probably a prudent move, the need for an additional full back is greater.

David Moyes can call upon the services of Angelo Ogbonna, Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop once he has finished his Covid-19 isolation, there is also young Ajibola Alese who despite only being 19 years old has a strong physical presence and performed admirably when suddenly having to fill in for Issa Diop just before the beginning of the EFL Cup tie against Hull City.

If the deal to bring Duje Caleta-Car to the London Stadium does happen, it will use up all of David Moyes' slender transfer kitty, any additional incomings would therefore definitely be loan deals, possibly with options to buy, which by the way is a fine template for West Ham to use if the Soucek deal is anything to go by.

Although the midweek defeat against Everton took a lot of shine off things, essentially the first team 'proper' is a good one, the problem is it is wafer thin, currently it will only take an injury to one of the 'main men' for the wheels to come off the wagon.

There is still enough time to do deals, but there is no point in bringing new players in just for the sake of it, if they can't improve the squad then there is no point in signing them, best to put the money towards turning Rush Green in to a training facility fit for purpose as opposed to the Refugee Centre it currently resembles. Three days to go before DDay and there won't be much Love and Pearce about West Ham unless one or two are brought in, unfortunately there are several players the club would dearly love to off load, but no one is rich enough or dumb enough to take them, even at reduced prices! - Ed