West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is putting out feelers for a young centre back as his last signing of the summer, according to Claret & Hugh.
The reliable Hammers news source claims that the heart of the defence is the one position where the Chilean really wants to strengthen in the final days of the transfer window.
The club are said to have told Pellegrini that he has funds remaining to make one more squad signing, with the club’s budget now thought to be standing at considerably less than £5million.
The Irons boss is targeting a youthful centre half who can challenge veterans Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid in the slots behind starters Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop.
OPINION
So this is where Pellegrini wants to spend his money in the remaining week or so before the transfer window slams shut. He obviously wants one more player at centre back to reinforce the heart of the defence, because he was forced to muddle through with just three centre backs for the majority of last season, and only two when Balbuena was out injured. So despite Reid being back in the fold now, Pellegrini is clearly keen to get in an insure policy in that area of the pitch. However, he’s eager to bring in a young centre back, so that he can develop them over time, while they’ll likely be more accepting of a situation where he’s on the bench the majority of the time than a veteran player. Having said that, it’s going to be difficult for West Ham to find a good quality, young centre back who will be available for £5million or less. That’s no money at all in this day and age and so it’s going to be difficult for Pellegrini to fulfil his desire in the remaining days of the window.
