Craig Dawson exit shocks fans as West Ham United sell defender to Wolves
Craig Dawson’s West Ham exit has left fans “flabbergasted” after he joined Wolves in January, according to the Daily Mail.
Dawson left the London Stadium in January in a deal worth £3.3million [The Guardian] after joining permanently in the summer of 2022 following a successful loan spell the previous season.
The Daily Mail (16 February), report that “many supporters are flabbergasted that Dawson was allowed to leave so easily, especially to join a rival in the fight for survival”.
Dawson, 32, has made two Premier League appearances for Wolves, winning on both occasions.
His debut came in a 3-1 win against Liverpool as he scored Wolves’ third goal in a memorable victory. He also played the full 90 minutes as Julien Lopetegui’s side recorded an important win over Southampton last weekend.
As a result of those results, Wolves have risen to 15th in the Premier League but remain only two points above the relegation zone ahead of this weekend’s game against Bournemouth.
Clever or foolish?
The reason Dawson was allowed to leave West Ham, other than him kicking up a fuss, is that the team was no worse off without him.
The Hammers have been one of the worst defensive outfits in the Premier League this season. Dawson played his fair share of a role in that defence too.
In a six-game winless run between 30 October and 14 January, Dawson played every minute, conceding 12 goals in the process.
Yes, Hammers fans will hold strong memories of the former Watford man if they reminisce about his early days at the club. During his loan spell, he was magnificent and a permanent transfer became a formality after just a few weeks at the club.
His start to life as a permanent Hammer didn’t start badly either but this season has seen a massive drop-off. Wolves fans should fear the same could happen at their club after Dawson made such a promising start for them.
The transfer may look foolish with Wolves currently ahead of West Ham but there is a good chance that will not be the case at the end of the season.