Having moved six points clear of the drop zone, West Ham United have all but secured their top-flight status for the next season and David Moyes is already planning for the future. He is looking to bring in some experienced stars to the club this summer and the latest name on his radar is West Bromwich Albion star, Craig Dawson.
West Ham Want Baggies Pair:
With West Bromwich Albion all set to drop into the Championship next season, a number of players from the first team at Hawthorns will have suitors in the top flight and reports now claim that West Ham United are ready to make a double swoop on West Brom’s CBs this summer.
It is understood that West Ham are interested in Jonny Evans but are also keeping a close eye on the versatile Craig Dawson for a move this summer. It is reported that he will not cost more than £5m if West Brom go down so is Dawson worth a punt?
Dawson And His Experience:
A product of the Rochdale academy in his hometown, the 27-year old joined West Brom in 2010 and took his time to establish himself in the first team. He has been a regular in the side since the 2014-15 season, making a minimum of 30 top-flight appearances in every season since then, except in the current campaign, where he has managed just 25 league starts.
Naturally a right-back, Dawson can also play as a CB, as he has been doing for more than a month for the Baggies this season, in the absence of Jonny Evans due to an injury. Strong in the air and smart with his positioning and understanding of the game, the 27-year old is a perfect CB for the English game and has made a total of 150 PL appearances to date, standing as one of the most experienced CBs in the league.
Why This Move Makes A Lot Of Sense:
The Hammers have gotten rid of Jose Fonte in January and have Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna, who are both 29, along with James Collins, who is 34 as the senior CB options in the squad. Declan has been impressive and is still young while both Chiekhou Kouyate and Aaron Cresswell, who have been used in this role, are only part-time options.
So Moyes is sure to dig into the transfer market for maybe even two CBs, to add some strength to a backline that has looked weak for most of the current season. The manager loves a 3-man backline and will need as many options as he can gather for that role next season.
Dawson fits the bill here perfectly.
He can play on the right side of the 3-man defence and at just 27, is a long-term option. He can also act as a backup to Pablo Zabaleta, who might yet be replaced this summer. Dawson is a resourceful option to have in the squad and will be a decent coup for West Ham.