Wolverhampton Wanderers know they could sign Craig Dawson from West Ham United in January. The defender almost joined Wolves in the summer until the Irons pulled the plug.
That is according to Dean Jones, who reports new boss Julen Lopetegui could follow Bruno Lage in targeting Dawson’s switch. The defender is facing an uncertain future under David Moyes as his £42.5k-a-week contract in east London will expire at the end of the campaign.
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Dawson has further struggled to retain a prominent role in Moyes’ plans this season. Thilo Kehrer and Nayef Aguerd have pushed the 32-year-old down the Hammers’ pecking order following their transfers in the summer. Kurt Zouma has also been Moyes’ primary option.
West Ham are now having to weigh up Dawson’s future at the London Stadium or risk him leaving for free. The centre-back cost the Irons just £2m in 2021 after triggering a clause in his loan transfer from Watford. But his status with the club has not remained as high since.
Moyes did not introduce Dawson to any of his Premier League matchday squads until they visited Everton on September 18. He also did not feature until Wolves visited the Irons on October 1. But Dawson has started in six of the Hammers’ nine top-flight encounters since.
Wolves know they could sign Dawson from West Ham in January
Now, Wolves know Dawson may be an option to sign in January having kept the West Ham ace on their radar. He nearly moved to Molineux over the summer but the Irons pulled the plug. The Daily Mail noted Moyes backed out of a £5m transfer after failing to replace him.
Dawson was keen on heading to Molineux to move back to the Midlands and he could now get the switch. But Jones does not sense the Rochdale native is a priority for Lopetegui just yet. Even though the new Wolves boss is keen to add to the British contingent at the team.
Reports by The Times note Lopetegui wants to bolster the British core at the club amid his search for up to six mid-season signings. Wolves have assured the Spaniard that funds are available, as well. So, West Ham may look to cash in despite Michail Antonio’s high praise.
“He’s been unbelievable, he’s been a rock at the back,” Antonio told the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily Podcast in April. “He’s like an old-school centre-half. He’s tough, he fights, he’s solid, he’s not scared to get down and deep, he’s been quality and he’s been solid.”
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