West Ham have been working hard behind the scenes in preparation for a summer rebuild at the London Stadium.
The Hammers are likely to sell several key players in this window, including Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville.
Those outgoings will then need to be replaced with cheaper options from the EFL or from foreign leagues.
West Ham have now turned to soon-to-be Championship rivals Cardiff City for a defensive signing.
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Dylan Lawlor emerges as West Ham transfer target
Cardiff City finished second in League One in the 2025/26 season, achieving automatic promotion to the Championship.
20-year-old central defender Dylan Lawlor played an important role in Cardiff’s promotion, with 32 league appearances.
The youngster also provided two goals and two assists, averaging a 6.85 rating for the season, according to WhoScored.
Lawlor has even established himself as a senior Wales international, earning six caps under head coach Craig Bellamy.
The Athletic has now reported that West Ham are interested in signing Lawlor following his impressive breakout campaign.
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He may not be the flashy signing who gets West Ham supporters off their seats, but he appears to be a sensible target.
The right-footed centre-back could be a like-for-like replacement for Jean-Clair Todibo, who is expected to depart East London.
Todibo recently fell out with Nuno Espirito Santo and was dropped from West Ham’s matchday squad on the final day.
Meanwhile, Axel Disasi has already returned to Chelsea following his excellent loan spell at the London Stadium.
The Hammers will need to sign at least one central defender this summer, and Lawlor would be a decent option.
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