OPINION
Despite Manuel Pellegrini making three additions to his defence already this summer, the West Ham manager is quite clearly still looking to bolster that area.
The club have been linked with a move for Swansea City star Alfie Mawson, Genoa defender Armando Izzo, and Bayer Leverkusen ace Aleksandar Dragovic.
However, moves for all of these three options pose certain issues, and the club may look elsewhere in the coming days.
One new name that has now been added to the list is Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back Jannik Vestergaard, with ESPN reporting that the Hammers are mulling a bid for the Denmark international.
The broadcaster claim that Premier League rivals Southampton and Everton have already tabled offers for the Bundesliga stalwart, with Watford also in the chase.
Vestergaard would be a brilliant addition to the Hammers defence, with the 25-year-old having vast experience in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim.
The 6ft 6in colossus [Transfermarkt] would therefore be able to make the jump to the Premier League more easily than some of the club’s other targets, and that is key.
The club need someone who can come in and make an instant impact, especially considering most business will not be completed until after the World Cup, when the season is fast approaching.
The thing that is most surprising about Vestergaard is his quality on the ball, with his gigantic frame belying his wide passing range from the back.
A centre-back partnership of Vestergaard and new signing Issa Diop would be seriously promising for the Irons, with both players still being young and having time to develop.
It is unknown how much Vestergaard would cost this summer, but the price tag would likely not be prohibitive to any deal going through, especially when you consider the club were linked with a £25million move for Mawson.
It is a swoop which makes perfect sense for the Hammers this summer, and they must now move quickly to submit a bid for Vestergaard after those from Southampton and Everton got the ball rolling.
They must blow those teams out of the water for the 25-year-old, who would dominate for them at the back next season.
