A West Ham United player of old had a telling impact on Ethan Pinnock amid his links with a move to the club.
Brentford star Pinnock has been linked with a move to West Ham United as the club look to strengthen their defensive options in the second half of the season.
Plenty of defenders have been linked with a move but Pinnock is a particularly interesting one.
What is your RESPONSE to those Ethan Pinnock links?
Underwhelming? Or Craig Dawson 2.0?
He has played a key role in Brentford’s largely comfortable time of things in the Premier League, having made his way through the Football League.
Pinnock’s Premier League experience could be a useful asset in a relegation battle, although it remains to be seen if the Hammers follow up their supposed interest.
A former West Ham player in the shape of Rio Ferdinand helped mould Pinnock into the defender he is today.
Ethan Pinnock loved watching Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand, of course, is generally regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation.
Though more associated with Manchester United these days (having seemingly forgotten his West Ham past), Ferdinand began his career in east London.
While Ferdinand isn’t very popular among West Ham fans and has attracted criticism from all angles since moving into the punditry world, there’s little doubt he was a supreme talent.
It would be nice to hear more recognition for the platform West Ham gave him, however.
Still, it’s easy to see why a young defender like Pinnock once was would enjoy watching Ferdinand at his best.
Speaking back in 2024, Pinnock told Brentford’s official YouTube channel: “When I hit maybe mid-to-older teens I think Rio Ferdinand was probably who I looked at as I started moving a bit further back the pitch.”
Charlie Cresswell will be West Ham’s best defender…😍
How can Nuno convince him to join?
Ray Winstone has already revealed why West Ham should sign Ethan Pinnock
Ray Winstone has recently been giving his views on what this West Ham team need.
In fact, Winstone has called for West Ham to sign a player like Craig Dawson.
Earlier this week, he told talkSPORT: “All this tippy-tappy at the back is lovely, but when you need a cruncher, that’s when you want someone like Dawson and [Angelo] Ogbonna at the back there. We’re really missing that.”
A no-nonsense Premier League veteran who can help stem the tide does feel like a wise addition.
While Pinnock is clearly a different player to Dawson, he does fit that kind of mould.
In the midst of a crisis and during a notoriously difficult January transfer window, Pinnock does look like a smart target.
It might not move the needle too much in terms of headlines but it’s a sensible plan.
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