David Moyes wants to bring former West Ham academy defender Kortney Hause back to where it all began according to a new report.
Having lost Angelo Ogbonna for the season to an ACL injury and with first choice defensive partner Kurt Zouma sidelined until February too, West Ham are on the hunt for a defender in the January transfer window.
Moyes has been linked with a host of targets already this month.
From Liverpool’s Nat Phillips to Man City’s Nathan Ake and Burnley defender James Tarkowski to name but a few.
Well now there is a new name in the mix after Football Insider claimed West Ham want to sign Aston Villa centre-back Kortney Hause.
“A Villa source has told Football Insider that Hause, 26, is also on the radar of West Ham and they have registered their interest in a potential January deal,” Football Insider claims.
David Moyes wants to bring former West Ham academy defender Kortney Hause back to where it all began – report
“His contract with Villa is due to expire at the end of the season but Football Insider has learned the club have the option to extend it by 12 months. That would enable the Midlands outfit to secure a higher fee for Hause this month…
“Steven Gerrard has given the green light to Hause leaving if he is able to recruit a new centre-back this month.”
If Moyes does make a move it would mean a homecoming for the former West Ham academy defender.
Hause, 26, was born and raised on Goodmayes, Ilford, and was part of the West Ham academy as a youngster.
He was released by the Hammers 10 years ago, aged 16, having joined the famous academy at a young age from his local side Lakeview FC.
The Aston Villa bit-part player had been a regular for West Ham’s under-16s, including taking part in a tour of Bermuda in 2010.
Fans will no doubt remember Hause’s dangerous elbow on Pablo Fornals in West Ham’s 4-1 win at Aston Villa earlier this season.
He should have seen red for that challenge. But he may be able to apologise in person at Rush Green soon if Football Insider’s claims are accurate.
Whether he is any better than what West Ham have is very much open to debate.
But he only cost Villa £3m from Wolves so it is unlikely any deal to bring Hause home to east London would be expensive. And we must remember that many wrote off Craig Dawson and declared he was not good enough when Moyes moved for the Watford outcast.
If the Scot wants him then we must trust his judgement.