After a run of three unbeaten games, David Moyes has helped West Ham United out of the relegation zone, half-way through the season and the new manager will now have a chance to improve on his options in the January transfer window.
The manager has a few positions in the squad that need to be strengthened if his side are to compete for a place in the top half of the table and this has seen a number of star players, constantly linked with a move to the London Stadium in recent weeks. One such player, Moyes is now desperate for is England U21 defender Alfie Mawson.
Reports from The Telegraph claim that West Ham United have identified the 23-year old as the right man for the future at the club and are reportedly ready to meet his valuation of around £25m. Swansea City, his current club, are looking to extend his contract beyond 2019 but with the club struggling at the bottom of the PL points table, Mawson might be tempted to make the switch to the English capital.
The Swans have failed to find any kind of consistency this season and have recently sacked Paul Clement, their manager from the start of the year. It is clear that the club is in the middle of a crisis and it might not be too hard for West Ham to lure Mawson out of the Liberty Stadium. But is the right man for the Hammers?
At just 23, Mawson is easily one of the best youngsters in his position in England at the moment. He was exceptional at the back for his side in the previous season, his first at the club, where his performances were monumental for Swansea in avoiding the sack. Though he has not been as effective this season, he still has made 18 league appearances and has shown enough consistency, to attract interests from other clubs.
Strong in the air and smart with his positioning, Mawson is a no-nonsense defender, who loves to throw himself around in the box. He wins most balls thrown into the box in the air and is equally adept at clearing danger from open play. He is guilty of giving fouls away unnecessarily but at his age, he will add that discipline to his game and is surely a star for the future.
He is also a decent passer and Moyes reportedly believes that he can walk into the first team at the London Stadium in January.
The Hammers have used Angelo Ogbonna in almost every game this season. However, the Italian has been partnered by a ranger of defenders, with the likes of Winston Reid, Jose Fonte, James Collins, Declan Rice and Chiekhou Kouyate all putting in a shift at the back. However, each of those names has picked up an injury at one time or the other this season, leaving Aaron Creswell, a left-back, to play as a part of the back-3 in recent games.
Mawson, who already has 45 PL appearances, is an upgrade on at least a couple of those names and could solve this problem at the club for years to come.
