Wolves want West Ham United defender Craig Dawson over free agent Jason Denayer
Wolves are choosing between West Ham defender Craig Dawson and free agent Jason Denayer, with the Hammers man edging the decision according to Sky Sports.
David Moyes has only just solved his crisis at centre-back with the signing of Thilo Kehrer but last season’s iron man at the back, fan-favourite Dawson, could be on his way.
The 32-year-old is “keen to return to his native Midlands area” according to the Sky Sports report on their transfer live-blog, and is also being chased by Aston Villa from that part of the country.
Denayer left Lyon in the summer at the end of this contract and can therefore sign immediately for free, while Wolves allowed captain Conor Coady to move to Everton on loan, but amid all that it is the Irons player who is emerging as their top target.
The former Watford and West Brom man made 50 appearances in all competitions for West Ham last season, while teammates were dropping like flies all around him, but has yet to feature in the new campaign.
Set back
If it is a personal choice that Dawson feels that he needs to make the move to one of these clubs it is going to be difficult for Moyes to stand in his way after what a servant he’s been to the club.
He has probably earned the right in many fans’ eyes to make the decision that is best for him and his family, much as they would not like to see him go.
While Angelo Ogbonna is the oldest of the centre-back rotation and is coming back from a major knee injury, although he did look encouraging against Viborg, Dawson cannot have failed to take notice of the fact that the last three signings at the position are younger than him and cost a combined £65.9million in base fees.
Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Kehrer are likely now ahead of him in the pecking order, despite his strong performances last year, and that has left him in somewhat of a similar position that Issa Diop was before his move to Fulham.
Dawson has been a better player in his time at the London Stadium than the former record-signing was but the writing may be on the wall for his long-term prospects at the club.
That it is two clubs from the area that he would like to return to in his personal life likely makes it an opportunity too good for him to turn down.
But it must feel like two steps forward, one step back, for the manager in terms of centre backs at the moment, since as fast as he strengthens he then sees the group weakened again, so it is going to be a difficult one for one side to swallow depending on what result is reached before the deadline.