West Ham United in hot pursuit of Porto ace Zaidu Sanusi as defensive signings targeted in January

Porto ace Zaidu Sanusi is a player West Ham have been looking at as bringing in a new left-back is something the club have "had an eye on for a while", according to Dean Jones.

Speaking to GiveMeSport on Tuesday (5 December), the former Eurosport journalist believes the Hammers will "cast their net far and wide" in January, but that the 26-year-old Nigerian international is someone they have been tracking.

He added that the Irons will probably look to bring in a couple of defensive additions in the transfer window as they look to strengthen for the second half of the season.

"Sanusi is definitely a player that they have looked at," said Jones. "We know that bringing in a new left-back is something that West Ham have had an eye on for a while.

"I think we'll probably see them looking in the market for a couple of defensive additions, to be honest. But at what level of spending, I'm not too sure at the moment.

"We'll see them cast their net far and wide like they always do, but Sanusi is a player they've been tracking."

No secret

It's no secret that West Ham have been looking to bring in a left-sided defender to add their ranks for quite some time.

Aaron Cresswell's future at the club continues to look uncertain after he pushed for a move away from the London Stadium during the summer transfer window, having lost his place in the starting lineup last season.

It would, therefore, be no surprise to see the Hammers try and bring someone in to compete with first-choice left-back Emerson.

A younger option would fit the bill as the Italian international is pushing 30 and could start slowing down over the next couple of years.

That is something Nigerian Sanusi would provide as David Moyes will be keen to strengthen his squad heading into the second half of the campaign.

In other West Ham news, one Hammers player’s exit stance has emerged after contract news has dropped.