West Ham have been scared into action by the dire situation facing them as it looks like a straight shootout between them and Leeds United to avoid relegation.
The Hammers twice threw away the lead at home against Aston Villa to lose 3-2 on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Leeds United played out a 1-1 draw with Brentford.
That made it five points from three games for Leeds, leaving West Ham three points below them as Nuno Espirito Santo’s 18th-placed side occupy the final relegation spot.
Now only a 3-0 win at Man City – coupled with defeat for Leeds against Crystal Palace – would see West Ham climb out of the Premier League relegation zone next weekend.
Hammers and Leeds in relegation stand-off
Wolves are dead certainties for the drop and Burnley are not far behind them in the eyes of most.
Forest’s improvement under Sean Dyche means a straight shootout is developing between the Hammers and Leeds to avoid filling the other relegation place.
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The January transfer window will undoubtedly be key to who wins the fight to stay on the Premier League gravy train.
It is very much last chance saloon for Nuno and Daniel Farke in calling for help to survive.
West Ham have vowed to back Nuno with at least three signings.
The Hammers board said they are ‘confident rather than hopeful’ of making signings when the window opens in less than three weeks.
Leeds are said to be planning to be active too.
So both clubs will have more than one eye on what the other does when the window rolls around.
And one bit of business being planned by the Hammers means the two are intrinsically linked.
Because West Ham are launching a new move for an ex Leeds star to help beat his old club in the battle for survival.
West Ham’s number one priority for the January window has been a striker ever since Nuno arrived.
The lack of options up front for the Hammers is a major problem, as highlighted by the fact they played without a recognised forward once again in the defeat to Villa.
Nuno does not seem convinced by ageing Callum Wilson, despite a decent impact since his arrival on a free transfer.
West Ham launch new move for ex Leeds star to beat drop
West Ham turned down the chance to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer, pointing to his injury record as the key reason.
But Leeds have been benefitting from Calvert-Lewin’s proven Premier League pedigree after he scored again in the draw with Brentford.
While a forward is a top priority for the Hammers, alarm bells continue to ring over the team’s defending.
West Ham are having to score two and three goals just to have a chance of drawing let alone winning matches.
And it seems signing a new centre-back is now back on the agenda in a big way in east London.
Last month Hammers News revealed that West Ham were looking to finish what they started by signing former Leeds defender Charlie Cresswell in January.
Hammers News was told early talks about completing a deal for Cresswell had taken place with Toulouse after West Ham failed to agree a loan with obligation in the summer window.
That came after the Irons saw a £13m bid for Cresswell rejected by Toulouse.
Leeds youth product Cresswell made 14 appearances for the first team before being sold to the French side last year.
He has been a big hit with Toulouse and was a key player as England Under 21s won the Euros in the summer.
Nuno is said to be a fan of ‘proper defender and leader’ Cresswell and Hammers News was previously told by a top West Ham transfer source that the club want to get a deal lined up for January.
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More points lost…
West Ham wanted Cresswell right up to deadline day in the summer but refused to agree to anything more than a loan deal.
The Hammers have paid the price since with their propensity to concede soft goals putting them in a relegation stand-off with Leeds.
Now Hammers News understands a deal for Cresswell is very much back on the agenda, as reported last month.
West Ham’s owners have been scared into action by the team’s alarming ability to throw away leads.
Now talks are expected to try and conclude a deal so Cresswell can return to England as early as possible in January.
It raises the very real possibility that Cresswell could help save the Hammers while sending former club Leeds down – if West Ham can get a deal over the line.
West Ham insider ExWHUemployee has also reported on the renewed interest in the ex Leeds defender.
“If West Ham do turn to signing a centre back then Charlie Cresswell of Toulouse is thought to be one player on the radar but as said a forward should take priority for now,” Ex said on The West Ham Way Patreon.
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