West Ham are conceding over two goals per game this season so it makes sense they are looking to sign at least one new centre-back amid fresh links to Charlie Cresswell.
The Hammers have signed Brazilian striker Pablo for £20m and Argentine Valentin Castellanos is expected to follow close behind in a £25m deal.
In the background West Ham are also working on a move to bring rapid, muscle-bound attacker Adama Traore to east London from Fulham.
So it looks very much like the Hammers are trying to score their way to Premier League survival this season.
Whether that is the right approach only time will tell.
West Ham prioritise attack over defence for reinforcements
But Nuno Espirito Santo has been banging the drum about keeping clean sheets since he arrived.
And West Ham’s bed is very dirty indeed.
Can Charlie Cresswell address West Ham’s defensive issues?
The Irons have shipped, on average, over two goals per game this season and have the second worst defensive record in the top flight.
It is not rocket science that the teams with the worst defensive records and goal differences are the ones who end up being relegated to the Championship.
So West Ham fans have been left baffled by the club prioritising attacking signings rather than defensive ones like top target Charlie Cresswell in the January transfer window so far.
Hammers News exclusively revealed that West Ham reignited a move for Cresswell heading into the winter window.
Majority owner and de facto director of football David Sullivan failed with a deadline day move for ex Leeds centre-back Cresswell in the summer.
His club Toulouse rejected West Ham’s loan with £13.5m obligation offer and Igor Julio was signed on a straight loan instead.
It is easy to see why West Ham want Cresswell. He was a key player as England Under 21s won the Euros in the summer and is brave and good in the air – attributes none of the Hammers’ three defenders boast.
Big Cresswell update as journalist lifts lid on West Ham bid truth
Nuno is said to be a big fan of his fearless defending, aerial ability and leadership.
It was claimed by the likes of teamTALK that talks had begun last week for West Ham to succeed where they failed in the summer with a new move for Cresswell described as ‘imminent’.
If you could replace Nuno with one out-of-work manager, who are you picking?
And why?
Now there has been a major Cresswell update for West Ham as a top journalist lifts the lid on the truth about a bid.
Given the gravity of the situation facing West Ham, many feel signing a defender or two should have been the priority this month rather than focusing on three attackers – all with questionable records.
However, there is mixed news from Sky Sports transfer specialist Florian Plettenberg on the Cresswell situation.
On a positive note for West Ham, Plettenberg has confirmed Cresswell is the next signing in the club’s sights.
Cresswell has been a cornerstone of Toulouse’s defence again this season, featuring regularly and starting virtually every match to date.
He has played 16 league games, contributing to six clean sheets.
Across those appearances he has made 14 tackles, 15 clearances and blocked three shots.
Cresswell’s ball-winning ability is evident in duels won and aerial challenges, and he also brings added value with three goals and an assist.
When Cresswell plays Toulouse concede an average of less than one goal per 90 minutes, a record West Ham would kill for.
West Ham still haven’t contacted Toulouse about Cresswell deal
Given the confirmed interest and his obvious qualities that the Hammers are sorely lacking, fans would hope West Ham are banging Toulouse’s door down and paying their valuation for Cresswell.
But Plettenberg says West Ham have still not contacted Toulouse about a deal for the defender.
In fact no concrete talks or negotiations have taken place between the Hammers and the Ligue 1 club.
Infuriatingly, the German Sky Sports journalist says the Hammers are merely ‘keeping a close eye’ on Cresswell, who has a contract until 2028.
What is there to keep an eye on from West Ham’s perspective?
They have been following the player for the best part of a year, the manager is a confirmed fan, his price is not extortionate and it has been reported previously Cresswell wants to come back to England.
The question is why West Ham have not made signing Cresswell a top priority instead of an after-thought to the moves for Pablo, Castellanos and Traore.
Perhaps if the Hammers had their house in order and had got Cresswell in the door for the Wolves game, they would not have conceded three goals and put in one of the most insipid performances in Premier League history.
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