Dean White

Wed 20 April 2022 6:40, UK

Aji Alese could make his third senior West Ham appearance against Frankfurt next week, according to The Mirror.

The newspaper reported via their print edition today [20 April, page 52] that due to a centre-back injury crisis, 21-year-old Alese could be drafted into Moyes’ squad for the first leg of the Europe League semi-final showdown at the London Stadium on 28 April.

Issa Diop’s ankle injury means he could be out for the rest of the season, meaning that Craig Dawson is David Moyes’ only fit senior centre-back.

Before facing Frankfurt next week, the Hammers have a Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday [24 April].

Massive blow

Diop’s injury in the draw against Burnley just goes to show how dumb it was to not strengthen the squad in January.

David Moyes isn’t blessed with incredible centre-back options so it was nonsensical to ignore that area of the squad in the last transfer window.

With Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna and Diop injured, Dawson is the only senior centre-back who’s available right now and potentially for the rest of the season.

Alese has next to no experience but the 21-year-old is a bright talent and he is a natural centre-back.

It could be better to play him than Ben Johnson at centre-back alongside Dawson or Declan Rice.

If Rice is dropped back into the defence then our midfield will suffer massively so it makes sense to bring in Alese.

Our game against Chelsea is a big one on Sunday because it’ll give Moyes the chance to potentially experiment.

Alese has played just once for the first team this season and that was against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League group stages.

He’s only played two times in total for the Hammers so let’s hope this isn’t too much for the promising youngster.

In other West Ham news, the Irons can sign this £10million player on a deal worth £120,000-a-week.

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