West Ham are reportedly tracking Swansea centre-back Alfie Mawson.
West Ham United are reportedly tracking Swansea defender Alfie Mawson ahead of the January transfer window and are expected to table an offer next month, and landing his signature could push through another deal in the pipeline.
The Guardian claimed David Moyes has identified the 23-year-old centre-back as a “key target” in his first transfer window as Hammers boss, as Mawson’s burgeoning reputation continues to grow in Swansea’s fight against relegation.
Moyes already boasts plenty of central defenders at the London Stadium, in James Collins, Winston Reid, Jose Fonte, Angelo Ogbonna and Declan Rice, with the latter also capable of playing in the middle of the park.
However, Collins is in the final year of his contract an Fonte remains on the sidelines with a long-term calf injury. It leaves Moyes with little choice but to look for a new centre-back sooner rather than later.
However, signing the former Barnsley and Wycombe Wanderers ace could speed up a deal to sell teenager Reece Oxford to Borussia Monchengladbach, as he remains on loan with the Bundesliga side.
The Sun claim Gladbach are looking to complete a £6million permanent swoop for the 19-year-old, despite only making four appearances for Dieter Hecking’s side.
Already well down the pecking order at the London Stadium, especially since the rise of Rice, the capture of Mawson would see Oxford become surplus to requirements despite his huge potential.
Adding Mawson to the Hammers squad on top of that, would suggest that the Hammers can do without Oxford, and that would quicken a deal to sell him to the Bundesliga outfit on a permanent basis.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
