West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United outcast Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the January transfer window.
The right-back, 25, has fallen out of favour under new manager Erik ten Hag, managing just one brief substitute appearance for the Red Devils so far this season. As a result, he is set to leave Old Trafford in the New Year and the player has attracted interest from a few clubs.
According to the Manchester Evening News, West Ham have shown interest in taking Aaron Wan-Bissaka on loan until the end of the season.
With a Man United start since April, Wan-Bissaka was told before the end of last campaign that he was free to leave the club. A summer move away from Old Trafford didn’t materialise but now that he has attained full fitness after struggling with injuries for the most part of the first half of the season, the full-back could be set for an exit next month amidst West Ham links.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham—Good move for Moyes?
West Ham have endured a tough 2022/23 season and lie 16th In the Premier League. One of their biggest areas of concern has been the defence, with the Irons conceding 17 goals in 15 games and managing only three clean sheets so far.
To address the team’s defensive shortcomings, West Ham have signed Luizao from Sao Paulo with the young defender officially set to arrive at the London Stadium on January 1 subject to international clearance. Having signed a centre-back, David Moyes is likely to shift his focus on recruiting a new right-back as he has struggled to settle on one.
Ben Johnson and Vladimir Coufal have not done enough to nail down a regular spot at right-back regardless of starting the same number of Premier League games, whereas summer signing Thilo Kehrer, predominantly a central defender, featured in that position in the Hammers’ last three games before the World Cup break.
On that note, Moyes has set his sights on bringing in Aaron Wan-Bissaka on a six-month loan deal from Man United. Man United are willing to let Wan-Bissaka leave on loan with a permanent deal, provided Ten Hag gets a new right-back of his own during the January window.
Signed from Crystal Palace in a £50m deal in 2019, Wan-Bissaka has failed to develop into an adventurous and attacking right-back and was ousted from the United side by Diogo Dalot last summer under the then-former caretaker manager Ralf Rangnick. However, Moyes could benefit a lot from the 25-year-old’s conservative style of play.
The former England under-21 international is a tough tackler and good 1v1 defender, and he could be a solid addition to West Ham’s backline. Wan-Bissaka can provide competition for Kehrer and Coufal while providing depth to Moyes’ side.
If West Ham can bring Wan-Bissaka on loan for the second half of the season, it will represent a smart move.
