Fikayo Tomori can fix obvious Lopetegui flaw amid West Ham transfer news
West Ham United could turn around the fate of Julen Lopetegui as head coach by bringing in Fikayo Tomori this month.
The AC Milan centre-half has gathered plenty of Premier League interest having struggled for consistent game time in Serie A so far this season.
As reported by talkSPORT on X (2 January), Tomori is being monitored by several English sides including the Hammers, having suffered “struggles” in Italy and been used as a bit-part player.
Tomori – once described as “outstanding” by former Hammers player Joe Cole (TNT Sports) – is now 27 and having left Chelsea for Milan in 2021, could relish a return to the Premier League where he could increase his chances of returning to the England setup.
Not only that, but the Hammers’ leaky defence under Lopetegui has looked all at sea at times, and could use a player of his ilk to earn some crucial points towards climbing the table.
West Ham need Tomori more than any other Premier League suitor
According to the recent talkSPORT report, Tomori is also wanted by Tottenham, Newcastle United and Brentford.
Milan are also reportedly demanding over £24million for the five-cap Three Lions man [MilanLive, 23 December], but West Ham showed themselves in the summer to be prepared to part with some hefty fees, PSR-permitting.
Many of the big-money summer arrivals have not quite worked out. This is especially pertinent at the back, where despite signing Jean-Clair Todibo (obligation to buy next summer) and Max Kilman, the Irons have shipped 35 goals in 19 league games as they prepare to visit champions Manchester City on Saturday (4 January).
Lopetegui needs Tomori. An England international at the age of 27 with a point to prove, fuelled by his inability to play consistently for a huge entity in Milan could be the perfect recipe for a new signing to spur the side.
A deal for the Chelsea academy product could also help lift the performance of the club’s fellow defenders, who have not served Lopetegui well during his reign to date.
It’s not often a potential deal like this comes along in January, which has the power to turn around the head coach’s entire tenure if done right.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have to make Chris Sutton eat his words at Man City this weekend.
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