West Ham United’s current centre-back situation ‘might make the chairman or the board’ spend extra in the transfer market, according to Daily Star journalist Paul Brown.
The Hammers were forced to field left-back Aaron Cresswell in an unfamiliar central role against Arsenal last time out as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium.
What is the latest news involving West Ham?
It was a third loss in their last four Premier League fixtures for West Ham when the Gunners came to visit, ending their chances of finishing in the top four.
However, the capital club remain in contention to qualify for Europe’s elite cup competition as they take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the second-leg of their Europa League semi-final.
The German outfit hold a narrow advantage from the first leg, but West Ham will take comfort from overturning a deficit against Sevilla and comfortably seeing off Lyon in their own backyard in the previous round.
David Moyes will be forced to field Craig Dawson and Kurt Zouma at centre-back, though, with both Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop ruled out through injury.
While Ogbonna suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament issue back in November, Diop picked up an ankle ligament problem in a recent draw with Burnley.
What has Brown said about West Ham?
West Ham’s predicament at centre-back is far from ideal, but Brown believes it could convince the club’s hierarchy, GSBK, to spend ‘a bit extra’ in the transfer market.
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He told GiveMeSport: “It might help focus some minds and might make the chairman or the board as a whole realise that it is worth paying a bit extra maybe.
“But I think it all comes down to where West Ham are in the summer. If they win the Europa League, and they qualify for the Champions League, then everything's changed.”
Who could West Ham sign?
West Ham were linked to Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai during the January transfer window, who reportedly had a £16.7 million price tag.
A formal offer for the Hungary international failed to materialise, though, but the Irons did make a move for Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car.
According to the Daily Mail, West Ham had a loan bid to sign the 25-year-old turned down in winter as the Ligue 1 giants were only willing to sanction his departure on a permanent basis.
It remains to be seen if Moyes’ charges revive their interest in either player over the summer or move their attention to new targets.