West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is now looking for an experienced campaigner to come in as third choice centre back, according to Football London.
The outlet claims that the Chilean wants a veteran presence to provide cover and competition for first choice centre half duo Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop.
This report comes in contrast to what reliable Hammers news source Claret & Hugh stated on Thursday, claiming that Pellegrini wanted a young central defender.
Either way, it appears that the heart of the back four is the area the Irons boss is looking to strengthen in the final few days of the transfer window.
OPINION
Clearly Pellegrini has become concerned by how the centre of his defence has looked in pre season. To be fair, you can’t blame him for that. Some of the defending against Manchester City, Newcastle United and Hertha Berlin in the past month has been absolutely shocking and very much a cause for concern. However, there seems to be confusion about what exactly the Chilean is looking for in a central defender. Does he what an experienced campaigner or a youngster who can learn and develop from veteran presences like Balbuena, Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid? It makes sense for Pellegrini to be looking to bring in a centre half, because Reid’s fitness cannot be counted upon after serious injury, which means that just one injury to one of the other three and you’re down to only two centre backs. Veteran or not, it would be good to get someone in, but the manager is hopefully clearer on exactly what he wants than we all are.
