Jan Bednarek was ‘determined’ to move to West Ham United on deadline day
Jan Bednarek was “determined” to move to West Ham United on deadline day according to Poland manager Czesław Michniewicz.
It was reported by talkSPORT’s Alex Crook (via Twitter, 1 September) that West Ham pulled the plug on the deal due to Craig Dawson’s move to Wolves collapsing.
However, it has since emerged that 26-year-old Bednarek was set on a move to the London Stadium before a late chat with Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard.
Poland boss Michniewicz revealed that Bednarek “fell asleep a West Ham United player” as the deadline day madness unfolded.
“Jan [Bednarek] told me such a nice sentence that he fell asleep as a West Ham United player, and woke up as a player of Aston Villa,” said Poland boss Michniewicz via Sport.pl [quoted by Hampshire Live, 13 September].
He added: “First, he talked to David Moyes, who invited him to West Ham and said that he needed a defender because the one they had brought for €35million had suffered a serious injury
“And Jan was determined to go there. He wanted to compete with the other centre-backs. West Ham have a lot of games because they also play in the [Europa] Conference League. But then Steven Gerrard called him and the conversation was different.
Typical deadline day
Stories such as this are very much expected on deadline day and it was a shame that the Hammers didn’t get Polish international over the line.
Dawson’s desire to leave the London Stadium late on in the window caused the club a headache, that could have been resolved far earlier in the summer.
The 32-year-old must have been aware of his personal situation for a number of months and should’ve pushed for a move away before the window neared its conclusion.
Bednarek on loan would’ve been the ideal signing for Moyes to make to provide cover to Nayef Aguerd after the Moroccan suffered an untimely preseason injury.
Dawson’s career at the London Stadium appears to be nearing its end in quite an unsavoury manner, particularly after his excellent form in the 2021/22 season.
If and when he does move on, the club should be working to land another central defender when the January window opens or if a suitable free agent is available now.