West Ham tipped to sign defender as source issues £10m+ Phillips bid update – pundit
Noel Whelan has tipped West Ham to prioritise the signing of a pacy ball-playing centre-back amid interest in QPR’s Rob Dickie and Liverpool’s Nathaniel Phillips.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker suggested the 6ft 3in [Transfermarkt] defender’s height would not be a determining factor in the Hammers’ pursuit.
As reported by the Athletic on Tuesday (28 December), West Ham are interested in Dickie as they hunt a new centre-back this month.
Whelan suggested pace and ball-control would be the primary attributes the Hammers look for in their new defender.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “You’ve got to have the quality. You’ve got to be comfortable on the ball and you’ve got to read the game.
“Obviously height does help when it comes to set pieces and that intimidation towards centre forwards but it’s not like what it used to be.
“You don’t have to be six foot four now. A lot of the strikers aren’t what they used to be. You don’t have too many Olivier Giroud’s out there you’re playing up against.
“They’re quite small. It’s all about the pace really and running up the sides of them.
“It’s about the intelligence of the game as well as the size of the player. The fitness levels, the quality on the ball. Can he bring something to the side that is going to be solid, more to the point?
“I don’t think the height is going to be a factor in deciding on one defender over the other.”
As revealed by Football Insider back in August, Leeds and Wolves are also among the chasing pack for Dickie.
This site also revealed back in November that West Ham were laying the groundwork to sign Liverpool defender Nat Phillips and the latest from an Irons source today is they are planning to bid more than £10million for him.
In other news, Football Insider can reveal West Ham have set sights on signing Aston Villa star.