West Ham will allegedly try to replace Hammers centre-back Craig Dawson during the summer transfer window.
That’s according to a report from club insiders Claret and Hugh.
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The 31-year-old originally joined the Hammers on a season-long loan from Watford in October 2020 at a cost of just £1 million. West Ham then made his move to the London Stadium a permanent one for a further £3 million in the summer of 2021 (The Sun).
£4 million for the no-nonsense, tough-tackling centre-back now seems like an absolute bargain.
What a signing he has proven to be for West Ham.
When Dawson arrived at the London Stadium, many Hammers fans questioned the wisdom behind Moyes bringing him to the club. However, those doubters have been silenced emphatically by big Craig’s performances for the East London outfit.
The only downside is Dawson’s age. He will be 32 before the start of next season. And it seems as though David Moyes could already be planning for life without the defender…
West Ham planning to replace Craig Dawson
That’s according to high level insiders Claret and Hugh.
It is suggested that Moyes feels as though he will need to replace Dawson soon as he will be 32 before the start of next season.
In 22 outings for West Ham this season, Daws has averaged 0.8 tackles, one interception, 3.3 clearances and 1.2 blocks per game. He has also won 3.1 aerial duels per match (Who Scored).
His passing isn’t as bad as people make out either. The 31-year-old has made 35.9 passes per game on average and has recorded a completion rate of 80% (Who Scored).
He has played a key role for West Ham since Angelo Ogbonna suffered a season-ending injury back in November. And those numbers above are evidence of his quality.
Dawson is out of contract at the London Stadium in the summer of 2023. So he will surely stay on for at least one more season.
It will be no surprise to see Moyes sign a long-term replacement for the Hammers cult hero in the summer though.
Having said that, finding someone with Dawson’s passion, commitment, professionalism and work ethic will be easier said than done.
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