West Ham United are expected to avoid making a move for a centre-back this summer.
According to a report in the Daily Star, West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has decided that he no longer wants a centre-back this summer.
It was originally suggested that Bilic wanted to strengthen his central defence, but he now has other priorities.
Bilic does not have unlimited funds to spend this summer, meaning that he has to think about which areas of West Ham’s squad need to be improved.
And Bilic has decided that making additions up-front will be far more important that tightening up his side’s backline.
West Ham already have Angelo Ogbonna, James Collins, Winston Reid, Reece Oxford and Jose Fonte available.
However, Bilic could be making a big mistake by avoiding signing a defender.
Chris Smalling is said to be available, but West Ham have chosen not to make a move (Daily Star).
And that could be a decision which Bilic lives to regret as the campaign progresses.
Reid may be one of the Premier League’s leading centre-backs, but there are doubts which linger over all of West Ham’s other options.
Ogbonna has struggled to stay fit, Collins and Fonte are both reaching the twilight of their careers and Oxford has very little experience.
And by not bringing in another central defender, West Ham could be left short next season – if things don’t go according to plan.
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