According to a recent report by Football.London, West Ham United are still planning to add a new centre-back before next week’s transfer deadline. The same source has mentioned that the Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini is concerned about his team’s defensive frailties in the pre-season after they have shipped in ten goals in five matches.
The East London outfit has already got Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena at their disposal with Angelo Ogbonna acting as back-up to them. However, Ogbonna’s poor form in the preseason has been a cause for concern, which is why Pellegrini is focussing on recruiting a new centre-back this summer.
Here are three defenders for West Ham to consider signing in this off-season.
Ben Mee
The Burnley centre-half has been a rock at the back under Sean Dyche’s tutelage over the past couple of seasons. The English defensive ace was a first-team regular at the Turf Moor last season and put in some commanding displays in defence for the Clarets. He will be a great coup for the Hammers if they can find a way to lure him to the London Stadium before the start of the new campaign.
Lewis Dunk
The Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back is a commanding presence inside his own box and can win a lot of aerial duels while going up against the opposition attackers. The 27-year-old is also a potent goal-threat from set-pieces as evidenced by his tally of two goals in 38 matches for the Seagulls in the previous campaign. On the defensive end, Dunk averaged 1.2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 5.4 clearances per game in the Premier League last season (stats via whoscored).
Pellegrini should consider recruiting him if he wants a dominant defender who can defend with authority and conviction at the back.
Nikola Milenkovic
The Serbian talent has been one of the brightest young prospects in the Serie A after he managed to have an impressive season with Fiorentina in the last term. Milenkovic appeared in 38 matches while finding the back of the net on three occasions on all fronts in the previous campaign.
The 21-year-old made an average of 1.7 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 4.0 clearances per game in the Italian top-flight last season (stats via whoscored). Therefore, it makes a lot of sense for the Hammers to try and land him this summer.
