West Ham now target Brentford star hailed an inspiration by Peter Crouch
West Ham are not wasting any time in the January transfer window.
As the Hammers sit 18th in the Premier League, Nuno Espirito Santo has already signed two strikers, with Pablo and Taty Castellanos joining for a combined fee of £43.3million.
Although Nuno is under intense pressure, he has been fully backed by David Sullivan and is now looking to add defenders to his squad.
Charlie Cresswell has been heavily linked with West Ham, but emerging reports have suggested that a Brentford defender is the man Nuno wants to lead the defence this season.
West Ham want to sign Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock
Having initially come from non-league side Dulwich Hamlet in 2015-16, Ethan Pinnock worked his way up the pyramid until he earned a move to Brentford in 2019.
The Jamaica international has only played three times under Keith Andrews this season and is looking for regular first-team football in the Premier League.
Journalist Mike McGrath reported via X on Friday that the Hammers are now targeting Pinnock due to his five years’ worth of experience in the top flight with the Bees.
| Stat | Pinnock |
| Appearances | 213 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Seasons spent in the Premier League | 5 |
Speaking on TNT Sports after Pinnock scored when Brentford beat Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on 28 October 2023, Peter Crouch highlighted his remarkable journey.
He said: “I wanted to touch on his non-league experience, because he is a shining light for some of those boys.”
“Quite often you get lost in the non-league, but when you see someone like that, you look up to them, and it shows that it can be done.
“Obviously, with his consistency, he’s become a mainstay in this Brentford team, and I’m really pleased for him because he’s a really nice lad.
“To get the winner at Stamford Bridge is something he’d only dream about after playing for Forest Green and Dulwich Hamlet.”
The Hammers have conceded 43 goals in 21 Premier League games, and the addition of Pinnock may prompt Nuno to change his system.
Nuno Espirito Santo could change to a 3-4-3 formation if Pinnock joins
Nuno played with three central defenders in West Ham’s 2-2 draw to Bournemouth on 22 November, and it worked to a good effect.
If Pinnock were to play at the heart of the back line, West Ham would have one of the most well-versed centre-backs in the Premier League for that specific position.
Once Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf return from AFCON, they would be well-versed to play that system, with Freddie Potts and Tomas Soucek making up the midfield.
A regular front three of Jarrod Bowen, Castellanos, and one of Lucas Paqueta or Crysencio Summerville would make up the team.
Pinnock’s arrival could be a huge bonus for West Ham, and while it may not be a flashy signing, it could be their most important move in the January transfer window so far.
Stay up to date this winter with our West Ham transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at the London Stadium, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.