Christian Dailly Hammers News

West Ham targeting two positions in January

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West Ham United are targeting a centre back and a striker in the January transfer window, according to Claret & Hugh.

The reliable Hammers news source claims that Irons boss Manuel Pellegrini is looking to strengthen both positions beyond his current starters.

However, there is a realisation that top targets are typically unavailable mid-season and so loan moves may be what the Chilean has to settle for.

He believes he needs more strength in depth behind Sebastien Haller up front, even with Michail Antonio on his way back from injury. The same goes for the centre of the defence.

OPINION

These are the two areas of the pitch where West Ham are a little short. Really, they only have one fit senior player who can come in behind the nominal starters in both these positions. At centre back, with Winston Reid’s status still uncertain, Fabian Balbuena is the only man really poised to come in if something were to happen to regular starters Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna. Meanwhile, summer signing Albian Ajeti is Pellegrini’s sole option were Haller to go down injured or face a suspension. That’s not much depth in two key areas of the pitch, so it makes sense that the Hammers boss is looking to strengthen come the winter transfer window. Whether he can get in the kind of quality that would make a difference remains to be seen. He has Antonio coming back, who can obviously play up top when required, but a loan deal for an established veteran frontman could be a good idea. Whether a quality centre half will be available or not is uncertain at this time.

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