West Ham ‘ready centre-back signing, it’s the top priority’
Graham Potter is prioritising the signing of at least one new centre-back at West Ham, according to the club’s former senior scout.
Mick Brown, who also worked as the chief scout for Man United and Blackburn and remains very well-connected at his former clubs, exclusively told Football Insider that the Hammers’ recruitment team have already been working to identify options.
The boss is concerned about the current options available to him as he remains keen to transition into his preferred style of play, having not yet been able to do so.
This comes after Football Insider revealed West Ham want to sign Udinese’s Oumar Solet and view him as the ideal replacement for Konstantinos Mavropanos.
The Greece international is no longer considered a part of the first-team plans at the London Stadium and is widely expected to be replaced by an incoming signing.
Football Insider also revealed that Kevin Lomonaco is on West Ham’s shortlist as they have been keeping a close eye on his performances for Club Atletico Independiente.
West Ham plot moves to sign new centre-backs this summer
Football Insider revealed on 14 April that Potter wants to be backed heavily in the summer transfer window as he targets a potential overhaul of his squad.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that a new centre-back will be the first move they make when the summer window opens.
“The goalkeepers always seem to do alright, it’s the defenders that are the issue,” he told Football Insider.
“Mavropanos has fallen out of favour, he’s not going to be part of Potter’s plans.
“Even when he plays well, he always has a mistake in him and more often than not it’s one that’s going to cost West Ham wins and points.
“The options they’ve brought to the club recently haven’t been good enough.
“In fact, since Kurt Zouma was allowed to leave, they haven’t been able to replace him.
“Everybody knew he was going to go, he had the injury issues, but they still haven’t replaced him.
“It’s a major problem for West Ham and for Potter and something they’re going to address.
“I’m told that’s among their top priorities because the centre-backs are going to be so important to how the team plays, and the ones there now don’t fit.”
Graham Potter plans summer overhaul as ten stars to leave
The squad Potter has inherited at the London Stadium was largely built by David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui and does not fit in with his ideal style of play.
As part of that overhaul, Football Insider revealed 10 first-team stars could leave West Ham this summer as they aim to balance the books before making new signings.
Among those earmarked for potential sales are Guido Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug, Emerson Palmieri, Maxwel Cornet and Michail Antonio, who are all seen as surplus to requirements.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on 6 April that Soler is unlikely to stay at West Ham after failing to impress, despite having a £17million option to buy in his deal.
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