On the day that West Ham United officially said goodbye to Axel Disasi, their plans for a restructuring of the defensive unit appeared to take a step forwards.
Chelsea loanee Disasi was one of nine players who the club confirmed, via an official statement on Wednesday, will not be returning for 2026/27. Not that there was ever much chance of that, of course.
West Ham’s hopes of retaining Disasi evaporated once their relegation was sealed. The potential for further departures in the shape of Dinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman means that, of the five centre-backs who ended last season in Nuno’s first-team plans, only Ezra Mayers looks certain to remain in the Championship.
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Replacements will be required, then.
According to Wales Online, West Ham United could move pretty quickly in pursuit of Cardiff City starlet Dylan Lawlor. Club insider ExWhuEmployee, meanwhile, throws a handful of new names into the ring via his Patreon page; Adam Webster, Dael Fry and Ben Wilmott.
West Ham United eye Cardiff City starlet Dylan Lawlor
Six-time Wales international Lawlor has emerged as a target after helping Cardiff seal their return to the Championship.
Hammers icon Danny Gabbidon is a huge fan, while another former Upton Park favourite – Craig Bellamy – described the 20-year-old as ‘exceptional’ after an impressive performance against Bosnia’s evergreen targetman Edin Dzeko in the World Cup play-offs.
Wales Online claim that West Ham’s interest is just the tip of the iceberg; clubs in Europe and as far away as the USA scouting Lawlor. The report adds that West Ham are looking to move quickly, in the knowledge that the upcoming World Cup could have a major impact on the market.
Lawlor, Wales Online say, is ‘understood to fit that profile perfectly’ in terms of what West Ham want from their summer signings. His a price-tag is reported to sit between £7 and £10 million.
Meanwhile, ExWhuEmployee brings the familiar name of Adam Webster to the table. He is more than a decade Lawlor’s senior but also a free-agent following the expiration of his contract at Brighton and Hove Albion.
“There are a few that tick the box and I know are on the radar,” the source says. “The first is Adam Webster. He does have leadership qualities, and we certainly looked at signing him under [Graham] Potter.
“Ben Wilmot was on the radar too. His club, Stoke, have just triggered an automatic extension to his contract for a year. So he wouldn’t be a free transfer now but could be someone that is at an affordable fee should we move.”
Hammers reportedly in talks with Middlesbrough’s Dael Fry
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In addition to Webster and Wilmot, Ex reports that ‘conversations have already happened’ between West and the representatives of Middlesbrough giant Dael Fry.
“The top target and most realistic appears to be Middlesbrough’s Dael Fry,” Ex says. “I believe that conversations have already happened between the club and his agent, and that this deal could be advancing.
“His club are desperately trying to get him to commit to a new deal with them, but we hope to offer him an alternative.”
Ex adds that further talks with the Hammers could take place again over the coming days. Fry will be a free-agent when his contract expires in three weeks’ time.
According to reports in Brazil, West Ham have made an ‘offer’ for Flamengo’s Leo Pereira too.
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