Dean Jones has told Give Me Sport that West Ham are considering a move to sign Burnley left-back Charlie Taylor this summer, with the defender still contracted to the relegated side until the summer of 2024.
Taylor, 28, has spent the last five years at Burnley after swapping Leeds for Turf Moor. But following relegation, he could join the likes of Nick Pope and James Tarkowski in leaving the club. West Ham are now looking.
Indeed, Taylor might not be the last of any potential Burnley exits either – Dwight McNeil and Maxwel Cornet are also being heavily linked with an exit. Vincent Kompany is likely to have a major summer reshaping his side.
- Newcastle and Tottenham want Leeds star, but Elland Road is his best move
- Robin Koch an unsung hero at right-back in Leeds’ final games of 21/22
West Ham want cover on the left flank and Taylor seems like the kind of player Moyes would love. It is unclear how much interested parties would have to pay to sign him, but Jones says West Ham are considering a bid.
“West Ham are looking for fresh options on the left side of defence. I’m told they have real interest in Burnley’s Charlie Taylor. It’s an especially interesting one to crop up because Burnley have been looking to sign a left-back on loan.”
West Ham considering Burnley left-back Taylor
What a signing it would be for West Ham. But he would be a better signing for West Ham than he would most other Premier League clubs. That is because of the way he plays, and the way West Ham play.
During his time at Burnley, Taylor has proven himself in the Premier League as a defensively-solid, hard-working left-back. He will get forward, not often, but when he does, he instantly looks to deliver crosses into the box.
At West Ham, with Aaron Cresswell often moving into the middle of the defence as he gets older, that is just what they need. Sean Dyche once told the Express & Star that he believes Taylor is good enough for an England call-up.
“He’s a very powerful defender, very good one v one, and if he plays forwards more and runs forwards more, then he at least can get around the thinking of the national manager in my opinion,” Dyche said, in 2021.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
