Julen Lopetegui should bring ex West Ham star home instead of John Egan. West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has confirmed he is looking at the free agent market and a host of defenders have been linked.
The departures of Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna have left West Ham with only three senior centre-backs.
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Throw in the fact that Ben Johnson – who also deputised there on occasion – and Thilo Kehrer have also left the Hammers, it’s easy to see why Julen Lopetegui wants a fourth central defender option.
Especially as the Spaniard has made it clear he wants the flexibility to play three at the back for certain matches – and even mid-game as he has already done several times.
West Ham’s new head coach has stated he wants two senior players for every position. And Lopetegui also confirmed he is looking at the free agent market over the international break.
That means signing number 10 of the summer could be on the cards for the Irons. Ex Liverpool defender Joel Matip, former Atletico star Mario Hermoso, World Cup winner Mats Hummels and Irishman John Egan have all been linked as possible free transfer arrivals.
West Ham have until the Premier League final squad deadline on September 14th to bring someone in. Hermoso and Hummels – who actually snubbed West Ham in the summer – are joining Roma.
Lopetegui should bring ex West Ham star home instead of Egan
And speculation has intensified that ex Sheffield United defender Egan could now join West Ham. The top spokesman at the club confirmed to Hammers News that West Ham are indeed ‘taking a look at Egan’. But they stressed no decision has been made yet.
That comes amid a bit of a backlash from some Hammers fans – on social media at least – about signing Egan, who has been out for a year after suffering an ACL injury playing against West Ham last September.
After being linked with a World Cup winner in Hummels, it’s easy to see why supporters are questioning the move.
Those arguing the case for Egan have pointed out that West Ham’s signing of Craig Dawson was heavily criticised by fans. They have also pointed to the fact Egan is a Republic of Ireland international. But others have countered that while Dawson is a valid point they also remember Egan’s compatriot Gary Breen.
With no decision made yet, though, should the Hammers be looking to a familiar face ahead of the former Blade? Lopetegui should bring an ex West Ham star home instead of signing Egan.
Boyhood Hammer Tomkins makes more sense than Egan
When West Ham sold James Tomkins to Crystal Palace for £10m back in 2016 it was seen as a questionable decision. There was no doubt boyhood Hammers fan and academy graduate Tomkins was going to have a fight on his hands to be first choice long-term at West Ham. But many fans felt the club should have done all it could to keep West Ham people like Tomkins in the squad.
Players who know what it takes and means to play for West Ham. Tomkins made 243 appearances for West Ham – just two less than Declan Rice.
But the Basildon boy wanted to be a starter and West Ham felt £10m of pure profit was too good to turn down from the Eagles at the time. Now 35, Tomkins went on to make nearly 140 appearances for Palace until being released this summer.
