From Charlie Cresswell to Nathan Ake, from Roggerio Nyakossi to Tiago Gabriel, West Ham United’s centre-back shortlist consists of a wide variety of names.
From ‘Premier League proven’ options to little-known youngsters from the continent.
So as Brentford veteran Ethan Pinnock enters their sights – the 32-year-old Jamaica international the latest in a growing number of reported central defensive targets – Hammers fans can sleep that little bit easier in the knowledge that a dreadful backline is something the club are determined to fix.
Whether they can, that is another question entirely.
What is your RESPONSE to those Ethan Pinnock links?
Underwhelming? Or Craig Dawson 2.0?
West Ham United have conceded the most goals in the Premier League this season. They let in only 46 when Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna were at their best in 2020/21. After 21 matches this term, they have already conceded 43.
Ray Winstone, then, is unlikely to be the only Hammers fanatic who feels Dawson and Ogbonna are badly missed in claret and blue.
A timely boost may have come the way of Nuno Espirito Santo this week, though.
Hammers News can confirm that Lille stopper Alexsandro was installed as Nuno’s first-choice central defensive target shortly after he replaced Graham Potter. And after a three-month injury absence which appeared to see him fall behind the likes of Cresswell, Ake, Nyakossi and Gabriel, the Brazil international made his long-awaited return to the Ligue 1 pitch in early-2026.
Lille star Alexsandro back at the ideal time for West Ham United
This, it is fair to say, was not the return Alexsandro was hoping for.
He would receive a straight red card after just 13 minutes on his first start since September. Understandably rusty, Alexsandro dallied on the ball and allowed Rennes’ Breel Embolo to nick in before bringing down the striker on the edge of his own box.
But if there was ever a moment where a centre-back could be excused from a game-ruining mistake, it was this.
The question is, though, if West Ham are now willing to pick up where they left off in talks for a defender who may need some time to get up to speed again.
“We don’t sense an Alexsandro who is reluctant, afraid, or apprehensive, but rather someone who is motivated and happy,” Lille full-back Thomas Meunier told Eurosport, albeit before that fatal lapse of concentration in a 2-0 home defeat.
“[Alexsandro] is powerful, technically gifted, and good at distributing the ball. He’s a super complete centre-back.
“He has his [technical ability] and he brings something to the team, I think. He’s also a very fast centre-back, which allows us to play with a slightly higher defensive line.”
West Ham looked well-placed to sign Brazil international after October talks
Speed is not something the Hammers have in abundance at the back, of course.
Paolo Fonseca, Lille’s former head coach, said Alexsandro possessed greater speed and aggression than Leny Yoro. Due to his left-footed nature and his supreme quality on the ball, comparisons have also been forthcoming with another ex-LOSC defender in Gabriel Magalhaes.
Nuno admits these four could all be leaving West Ham…
How do you feel about what could be a BIG January overhaul?
“The Lille player [Alexsandro] was on Nuno’s list when he arrived and he is the top target,” a transfer source exclusively told Hammers News in October after links with the £25 million ace first emerged in his native Brazil.
“Early talks have been held over price and whether the deal can be done. The signs are good. Ideally, Nuno wants him in the building in the first week of January as every game is going to be so important.”
As things transpired, West Ham did get two signings in the first week of January. Two centre-forwards, in Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos. No matter how many goals they both score between now and July, no matter if they become the 21st century answer to John Hartson and Paul Kitson, relegation seems a certainty as long as Nuno is forced to hang his hopes on Max Kilman and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
So, has Alexsandro returned from injury too late for West Ham to make a move? They need a pretty immediate impact, after all, and time is very much of the essence.
Or, instead, has Alexsandro returned at precisely the right time?
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