West Ham United want to sign Jonathan Tah to replace Craig Dawson this summer
West Ham want to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah in the summer as a replacement for Craig Dawson, according to 90min.
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.
That means they are likely one player short of their preferred numbers in the position, and Germany international Tah is a target for the club – with the report claiming that he is open to a move to the Premier League at the end of the season 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,” they wrote (10 February).
“Tah has been a near-permanent starter for [Xabi] Alonso, starting 16 of Leverkusen’s 19 league games so far, but 90min understands he is keen to take his talents to England at the end of the season.”
Intriguing
Moyes has always been very good at identifying defensive targets that would improve the team, and that’s what he has done regularly at West Ham.
Right now the first-choice options are Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma, with Angelo Ogbonna and Thilo Kehrer acting as solid back-up options for the positions.
But with Ogbonna in his late thirties and Kehrer struggling since joining the Premier League, mixed with Zouma’s injury problems, there would be no problem with bringing in another player to compete for that starting role.
Tah has got top level experience, is in the prime of his career and while it would be difficult for the club to be able to bring him in ahead of Liverpool and Newcastle, it shouldn’t be entirely ruled out either.
He would be guaranteed more playing time at the London Stadium, London is a huge lure for foreign players, and the club will have cash to spend if Declan Rice leaves as expected too.