Rob Green backs West Ham to seal late deal amid Taylor Harwood-Bellis latest: ‘Everyone knows it’
West Ham have been chasing the signing of Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the final stages of the January transfer window.
The Premier League strugglers are keen to make the Southampton star their fifth addition of the winter window, with the likes of Taty Castellanos and Adama Traore having already joined their group.
West Ham were linked with a move for Harwood-Bellis during last summer’s window, and their pursuit of the 24-year-old has resurfaced in the middle of the season, as they bid to strengthen their squad to aid their relegation fight.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side squandered a 2-0 lead to lose away at Chelsea on Saturday evening, a result which could leave them six points adrift of safety if Nottingham Forest beat Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Rob Green backs West Ham to add centre-back
West Ham recently saw a bid for Harwood-Bellis rejected by Southampton, as their attempts to land a new centre-back remain unrewarded so far.
The East Londoners have shipped more goals than any other team in the Premier League, and still have just one clean sheet to their name all season, which came way back in August.
A new defender has to be a top priority for David Sullivan and Co. before Monday’s deadline, but it probably won’t be Harwood-Bellis who joins their ranks, as West Ham are “unlikely” to make an improved offer for him, according to journalist Roshane Thomas.
Nevertheless, former Hammers goalkeeper Rob Green backed his former club to add a defender before the imminent deadline, during Sky Sports’ coverage of the Chelsea game, while he insisted that Harwood-Bellis would be an improvement to the team.
“They’ve just lost (Lucas) Paqueta, but they need to use that money,” Green said.
“If it goes on Harwood-Bellis, then he’d be an improvement to the XI. The key areas have been strikers and centre-halves. They’ve addressed the striker issue; now they need the centre-half.
“It’s screaming out for it. The fans know it, everyone knows it.”
Hammers faced with Axel Disasi transfer barrier
West Ham have also been heavily linked with Axel Disasi of late, and Thomas’ report provides the latest update on the Chelsea star’s future, as he is another of the defensive targets at the London Stadium.
The Frenchman has been part of the ‘bomb squad’ at Stamford Bridge for over a year now, and the arrival of Liam Rosenior in the dugout has not brought him a reprieve so far.
Thomas suggested that West Ham’s interest in Disasi still remains, but they are faced with a crucial obstacle that must be overcome if they are to have any hope of striking a deal.
The East Londoners want to take the 27-year-old on a loan deal until the end of the season, but their neighbours across the capital strongly prefer to let the defender leave on a permanent basis.
It seems as though, unless this issue can be surpassed by the two clubs, West Ham will be forced to quickly turn their attention elsewhere if they want to get a defender through the door.