West Ham told to sign ‘next Craig Dawson’ and accept offers for senior duo – expert
West Ham have been told to sign the ‘next Craig Dawson’ and accept offers for current defenders Kurt Zouma and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Hammers and Celtic striker Frank McAvennie claimed that the London Stadium faithful want a player like former centre-back Dawson.
The 33-year-old, who is currently playing for fellow Premier League club Wolves, made 87 appearances in claret and blue.
McAvennie believes David Moyes must reinstate veteran centre-back Angelo Ogbonna into the starting XI.
The Italian has made 12 appearances in all competitions this season, with Zouma and Mavropanos the recent preferred partnership in central defence.
West Ham need to bin Kurt Zouma and Konstantinos Mavropanos
“I don’t know what’s happened to Ogbonna, he’s out of the picture now,” he told Football Insider. “How Zouma and Mavropanos can get a game before him…
“I don’t know what Zouma brings to the team now. It looks to me as though he can’t run. He gets caught out all the time, he hasn’t got the pace that he used to have.
“They brought in Dawson a couple of years ago, and he was just a no-nonsense player. And that’s what West Ham need now, someone like that, get him in – he’s absolutely perfect, somebody who can talk, hold the line and organise the defence.
“I don’t see Zouma doing that. He’s the captain. I might be wrong, but I don’t see him doing that.
“They need somebody like Dawson, the next Craig Dawson. Fans are not asking the centre-backs to be the best players in the world. Not everyone can be John Stones and go into midfield like he does.
“What they want is someone who can go and win the ball. I think we’re just too lightweight. I don’t see our centre-backs putting their weight on players and pressuring them.
“Up against quick players they get turned so easily. You’ve got to weigh it up. If you’re going to get turned, don’t get that close.”
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