West Ham have launched a stunningly ambitious move for a star who could keep them in the Premier League but it’s no joke and there is a back-up plan in place too.
West Ham have left fans and pundits somewhat baffled with their priorities in the January transfer window.
The Hammers have the second worst defensive record in the top flight this season.
The three teams who ship the most goals almost always end up being relegated.
Goals win games but West Ham were conceding over two per game on average, meaning they need to score three to win a match.
West Ham finally make a case for the defence
That’s exactly what they did at the weekend, beating Sunderland 3-1 to make it two Premier League wins on the bounce for the first time since November.
That has breathed new life into their survival hopes, but Nuno Espirito Santo’s side still couldn’t keep a clean sheet.
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We are staying up 🎵
The clear aim at the start of the window was to bolster the attack.
Nearly £48m was spent in the first 48 hours of the window on two new strikers, Taty Castellanos and Pablo.
Unknown winger Keiber Lamadrid has since been signed on loan with an option to buy.
West Ham have described the Lamadrid signing as a ‘lottery ticket’.
A fourth signing is expected soon with the arrival of another attacker – rapid, muscle-bound winger Adama Traore.
What the Hammers are yet to do is address their obvious weakness at the back.
While Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos have been markedly improved of late, there is little to no confidence in Max Kilman while the Hammers have been actively trying to cancel Igor Julio’s loan from Brighton.
West Ham make ambitious move for star have a plan B
A deal for top target Charlie Cresswell has been getting increasingly expensive.
West Ham’s position in the table has also been making it difficult to attract a top centre-back on a permanent deal.
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An absolute baller
They may have left it late, but now the Irons look to finally be doing something about their lack of quality in depth at the back.
And if they pull it off the move they’ve just launched it could be so game-changing it will keep them up.
West Ham have made a stunningly ambitious move for Atalanta star Isak Hien – but it’s no joke.
The Hammers have even been mocked by their own fans after Mail Sport’s leading transfer insider Simon Jones revealed West Ham have made a bid for giant Sweden defender Hien.
West Ham have reportedly made an offer to take Hien on loan for a decent fee and with an obligation to buy at a set price if they stay up.
On the face of it, fans could be forgiven for wondering why the 27-year-old would leave Champions League Atalanta for a relegation battle with West Ham.
Well for a start the Hammers can pay a lot more than the Italian side and Hien will be on a promise for big wages if the deal is made permanent.
Hien can keep West Ham up and move is no joke
There is the Premier League factor – this may be Hien’s last chance at a move to the world’s best league and gives him a chance to impress other clubs even if he can’t help keep the Hammers up.
There is the attraction of living in London.
And, crucially, Hien – who can also play right-back, has found himself out of the side over the last couple of months, starting just once in seven games.
West Ham are not kidding themselves that a deal will be straightforward, though, and do have a back-up plan in place.
Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge is named as heading up a “long list of names” West Ham have as potential Hien alternatives.
Ironically it is Ordonez who is considered unrealistic by the Hammers, suggesting the east Londoners have been given some encouragement a deal for Hien is not as far-fetched as it might seem to some.
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