West Ham are closing in on Jan Bednarek – and the deal could pave the way for Craig Dawson to join Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Hammers have already signed two centre backs this summer by landing Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer.
Yet David Moyes remains in the hunt for more support at the back and there have been links to the likes of Nico Elvedi and Michael Keane.
It looks like West Ham have found their man though – and their imminent moves spell bad news for Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa.
West Ham are closing in on Jan Bednarek
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that West Ham are now close to reaching an agreement with Southampton for the signing of Jan Bednarek.
It’s noted that Aston Villa had been in talks to sign Bednarek, but West Ham have swooped in and are now set to win the race.
The report adds that Bednarek arriving hinges on Craig Dawson leaving the London Stadium.
Reports have suggested that Villa would like to sign Dawson, who fancies returning to the Midlands having previously turned out for West Bromwich Albion.
However, TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook reports that Dawson is set to join Wolverhampton Wanderers with West Ham ‘reluctantly’ allowing him to go.
Conor Coady has gone and Willy Boly is heading out, so Wolves needed some experience at the back and Dawson can provide that.
This is terrible news for Villa, who look set to miss out on both Bednarek and Dawson.
Villa need a new centre back as summer signing Diego Carlos is out through injury, so a proven Premier League defender like Bednarek or Dawson made perfect sense.
Under-fire boss Steven Gerrard will have been confident of signing one of them, but Villa are now seemingly missing out on both defenders.
This is not how Gerrard would have wanted to start deadline day, but unless something changes very soon, Villa will need to go back the drawing board to find a new defensive target.
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