West Ham manager David Moyes is reportedly eyeing Brighton defender Lewis Dunk as his first Hammers signing.
David Moyes has reportedly pin-pointed West Ham’s biggest problem area. The Hammers require a centre-back in January – one that can finally plug the leak.
The Hammers have kept just three Premier League clean sheets all season, with Winston Reid, Jose Fonte and Angelo Ogbonna all failing to prevent opponents from peppering Joe Hart’s goal. They have conceded 23 goals, more than any other side.
Fonte has been ruled out until the new year and both Reid and Ogbonna have also had their fair share of injuries in recent times, making it strikingly obvious that a proven Premier League centre-back is needed.
The Daily Mirror claims West Ham are interested in 25-year-old centre-back Lewis Dunk, who has been mightily impressive in Chris Hughton’s Brighton side since the Seagulls gained promotion to the Premier League.
Starting every Premier League match so far, Dunk has even been linked with an England call-up after proving instrumental in four clean sheets and wins against Newcastle, West Brom, Swansea and indeed West Ham.
But with the Hammers already boasting Fonte, Reid and Ogbonna, adding Dunk into the mix will surely mean fan favourite James Collins’ time at the London Stadium is drawing to a close.
The Wales international, who retired from international duty earlier this month, has just a matter of months remaining on his current contract in east London.
The only way to prove that he deserves a new deal would have been his performances on the pitch, but now the former Aston Villa and Cardiff City defender is unlikely to be given the chance – especially if West Ham sign Dunk.
Now 34 years of age, Collins could be an unfortunate casualty and thrown on the scrapheap next summer if Moyes decides to press on with his reported interest in Dunk.
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