West Ham face a six-pointer later this week.
David Moyes’ side are currently 16th in the Premier League, three points clear of AFC Bournemouth in 18th.
They are far better off than the Cherries, though, in terms of their goal difference.
They are, essentially, four points clear, then, with three games of the season remaining.
Watford are 17th, level on points with the Hammers, and the two face each other on Friday.
That game marks the start of the east London club’s run-in before games against Manchester United and Aston Villa; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are attempting to qualify for the Champions League while Dean Smith’s men are still battling to stay in the Premier League.
Their summer plans, then, are difficult to formulate, because there does remain the possibility of relegation.
However, there appears to be movement towards recruitment as they attempt to strengthen Moyes’ squad.
A report from Mundo Deportivo journalist Miguel Rico, via Sport Witness, claims that the Hammers have opened talks with Barcelona right-back Moussa Wague over a potential move.
Wague has been playing for OGC Nice on loan since the January transfer window, making five appearances in total.
The report states Barca consider the full-back expendable in the summer – he has made a total of six senior appearances for the Catalan club – and the Hammers are exploring the possibility of securing his signature.
There’s the possibility of West Ham taking the right-back on loan with the option to sign him permanently for €16 million (£14.4m), while a permanent deal would cost €10m (£9m).
Barca would prefer to sell him.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
Wague is an intriguing option for West Ham.
He hasn’t quite made the grade at Barca but the Hammers do need to sign a right-back in the coming months.
Pablo Zabaleta is set to leave the Irons when the summer transfer window rolls around and replacing him has to be a priority in this market.
Wague has won a total of 14 caps for Senegal but he remains something of an unknown quantity at the highest level in league football.
In total, he has only made 54 appearances in senior football so, despite his current club, he would represent something of a gamble.
Nevertheless, West Ham need a new right-back; he may well be the answer.