Jonathan Tah could be the ideal contingency plan for West Ham following David Moyes’ Angelo Ogbonna admission
West Ham’s interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah makes perfect sense following David Moyes’ comments on Angelo Ogbonna’s contract situation.
According to 90min [10 February], the Hammers want to sign the experienced Bayer Leverkusen defender Tah in the summer as a replacement for Craig Dawson.
The Hammers allowed their veteran central defender to join Wolves in the summer ahead of his contract expiring but didn’t sign a replacement during the winter transfer window.
The report claims that the 27-year-old is open to a move to the Premier League this summer amid interest from Liverpool and Newcastle also.
“West Ham United are known to be admirers of Tah and could make a move for the German as they seek to replace Craig Dawson, who was allowed to join Wolverhampton Wanderers in the January transfer window,” 90Min wrote (10 February).
However, Dawson may not be the only Hammers defender they are desperate to replace. Italian defender Angelo Ogbonna’s contract at the London Stadium is also running out this summer, which could leave the club well short of quality options at the back.
And Moyes admitted the club are yet to enter negotiations with Ogbonna about a new contract at the London Stadium, despite his recent return to form.
The experienced defender previously suggested in October that he’d be open to extending his stay in East London [Football London, 12 October] however, Moyes has left that idea open.
When asked by reporters on Friday if the club had offered the 35-year-old a new deal, manager Moyes claimed Ogbonna had been a “really good servant” and talks were yet to open.
He said: “We’ve not gone into the new contracts yet.
“It’s good to see Angelo back playing well. Coming back from a cruciate at 34 and getting back into form, it’s taken him a while. We hoped to get him back at the start of the season but it’s taken a bit longer and he’s had to wait a bit to get an opening.
“He probably needed the European games, the pre-season and, in truth, the winter break games if I’m being honest.
“I’m pleased he’s done a really good job, he’s been a really good servant, but the truth is we’ve not got round to discussing any contracts at the moment.”
Whatever the decision may be regarding Ogbonna’s situation at the London Stadium, the Hammers simply have to start planning a contingency plan in order to refresh a part of the squad that has been seriously depleted this season.
Ogbonna has endured his fair share of injury troubles this campaign, along with Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd, despite his return to form in recent weeks which means the club desperately need to rebuild.
A huge summer is certainly on the horizon for the club with the likes of Declan Rice, Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal along with Ogbonna all facing uncertain futures, and the work to find suitable replacements must start now.
Tah, 27, represents the ideal contingency plan to replace Ogbonna. The German defender provides plenty of experience having played at the top level both at club level and internationally and he’d been a superb pick-up for any Premier League club this summer.
Even if Ogbonna stays beyond this summer, it is clear the Hammers need a serious refresh in defence, bringing in fresh blood as well as players capable of performing consistently at the top level.
If the club are serious about getting back into the European picture in the coming months, the recruitment plans needed to achieve those ambitions need to be addressed immediately, with a huge summer exodus expected come to the end of the season.